Pieter van der Westhuizen, SSAS, SM, MMM (born 24 December 1937) was a South African Army officer who served as the Chief of Staff Intelligence from 1978 - 1985 and later Secretary of the

State Security Council The State Security Council (SSC) was formed in South Africa in 1972 to advise the government on the country's national policy and strategy concerning security, its implementation and determining security priorities. Its role changed through the pr ...

Background

He joined the South African Army as a Lieutenant in 1959, and would later serve as a troop commander at the

1 Special Service Battalion 1 Special Service Battalion (usually abbreviated to ) is an armoured regiment of the South African Army and only one of two such in its regular force. The Regiment is based at Tempe near Bloemfontein. It was previously known in Afrikaans as () ...

and later as company commander at

2 South African Infantry Battalion 2 South African Infantry Battalion is a motorised infantry unit of the South African Army. History Origin: Walvis Bay and South West Africa 2 SAI was established on 1 January 1962, at Walvis Bay an enclave of South Africa surrounded by ...

. In 1964, he was appointed to the Infantry School as an instructor. By 1968, he was appointed as a staff officer at the Directorate of Military Intelligence. He completed the French Command & Staff Course in the sixties and was appointed the Commandant Army College in 1974. He commanded Northern Transvaal Command before becoming a Director of Collection at Directorate Military Intelligence in 1976. He was appointed Chief of Staff Intelligence in June 1978. He held that position until 1985 before becoming the Secretary of the

until 1988.

Awards and decorations

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References

South African Army generals 1936 births Ambassadors of South Africa to Chile Living people {{SouthAfrica-mil-bio-stub