Mo Shaik has been appointed as the Head of the South African Secret Services, Minister of State Security, Dr Siyabonga Cwele announced on Friday.

He also announced Liso Njenje as the Head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Ambassador Mzuvukile Jeff Maqetuka as DG of the State Security Agency.

The appointments have been approved by President Jacob Zuma and will be effective from October 2.

Cwele described Shaik as being involved in the battle for freedom and democracy in South Africa.

"He served in the internal underground structures of the African National Congress (ANC), especially in Natal. His duties involved collection and analysis of intelligence at the coalface feeding into the ANC headquarters in Lusaka to assist the leadership to properly respond to the situation in the country."

He said that Shaik served the democratic government in many capacities.

"In 1994 he was part of the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) team that facilitated the amalgamation of services into the new dispensation of intelligence. He further served as Head of Ministerial Services to the Ministry of Intelligence Services. In 1997 he was appointed the Deputy Coordinator of Intelligence Services."

Cwele said Shaik's commitment to national duty led to him being appointed the South African Consul-General in Hamburg in 1998. He later became the South African Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Algeria.

He later became the special adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of Policy Research and Analysis Unit between 2003 and 2004.

The minister said that Njenje was an experienced intelligence officer.

"His involvement in the intelligence craftwork span many years, beginning in the liberation struggle until the democratic dispensation.

"The reservoir of knowledge and experience he possess, not only as a career intelligence officer, but also as a businessman is what we require to rebuild and capacitate our intelligence structures," said Cwele. - BuaNews