Lieutenant General

Pieter Willem van der Westhuizen

SSA SM MMM
Nickname(s)Wessie
Born (1937-12-24) December 24, 1937 (age 86)
Nylstroom, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Allegiance South Africa
 South Africa
Service/branchSouth African Army
Years of service1959–1992
RankLieutenant General
Unit2 South African Infantry Battalion
Commands held
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAG South African Police Star for Outstanding Service SOE Southern Cross Medal SM Military Merit Medal MMM Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Good Service Medal ' Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB
Other workAmbassador to Chile

Pieter van der Westhuizen, SSA SM MMM (born (1937-12-24) December 24, 1937 (age 86))[1] 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.

Military career

He joined the South African Army as a Lieutenant in 1959. He joined the artillery, and would later serve as a Troop Commander at 11 Field Battery, 1 Special Service Battalion. He changed mustering to the infantry and served as Company Commander at 2 South African Infantry Battalion Group.[2] In 1964, he was appointed to the Infantry School as an officer instructor.[2] By 1968, he was appointed as a staff officer at the Directorate of Military Intelligence.[2] He completed the French Command & Staff Course in the sixties and was appointed the Commandant Army College in 1974.[2]

Commandant South African Army College in 1973 until 1975. He commanded Northern Transvaal Command from 1975–1976 before becoming a Director of Collection at Chief of Military Intelligence in 1976.[2] He was appointed Chief of Staff Intelligence in June 1978.[1] He held that position until 1985 before becoming the Secretary of the State Security Council until 1988.[3]: Chp2  He was appointed as the Ambassador to Chile returned to South Africa in Dec 1991 and served on the staff of the Chief of the Defence Force until 31 March 1992 when he retired. He went back to Chile where he ventured on business and stayed there until 2021.

Awards and decorations

References

  1. ^ a b Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria. 12 (2): 93.
  3. ^ O'Brien, Kevin A. (2011). The South African Intelligence Services: From Apartheid to Democracy, 1948-2005. Studies in Intelligence Series. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-203-84061-0.
Diplomatic posts Preceded byMichal Muller Ambassador to Chile 1988–1991 Succeeded byLeon Malan Brand Government offices Preceded byAndre van Deventer Secretary of the State Security Council 1985–1988 Succeeded byCharles Lloyd Military offices Preceded byIvan Lemmer Chief of Staff Intelligence 1979–1985 Succeeded byAndries Putter Preceded byIvan Lemmer Acting Chief of Staff Intelligence 1978–1979 Succeeded byHimself Preceded byPhil Pretorius OC Northern Transvaal 1975–1976 Succeeded byBoytjie Viviers Preceded byMac Kotzé Commandant Army College 1973 – 1975 Succeeded byGeorge Kruys
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