Pieter van der Westhuizen

Lieutenant General Pieter Willem van der Westhuizen SSA SM MMM
Nickname(s)	Wessie
Born	(1937-12-24) December 24, 1937 (age 87) Nylstroom, Transvaal, Union of South Africa
Allegiance	South Africa   South Africa
Service / branch	South African Army
Years of service	1959–1992
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	2 South African Infantry Battalion
Commands	Chief of Staff Intelligence Chief Director Military Intelligence Director Covert Collection OC Northern Transvaal Command Commandant Army College
Awards
Other work	Ambassador to Chile

Pieter van der Westhuizen, SSA SM MMM (born December 24, 1937) ^[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

• Star of South Africa (Gold) (SSAG)
• South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)
• Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
• Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years))
• Order of the Cloud and Banner (4^th Grade - with Special Cravat) (ORB) (Taiwan)
• Order of the Cloud and Banner (3^rd Grade - with Yellow Grand Cordon) (ORB) (Taiwan)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins (Chile)
• Paraguayan decoration

References

1. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992 . Fortress Publishers. ISBN   0-9583173-3-X.
2. 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 by Michal Muller	Ambassador to Chile 1988–1991	Succeeded by Leon Malan Brand
Government offices
Preceded by Andre van Deventer	Secretary of the State Security Council 1985–1988	Succeeded by Charles Lloyd
Military offices
Preceded by Ivan Lemmer	Chief of Staff Intelligence 1979–1985	Succeeded by Andries Putter
Preceded by Ivan Lemmer	Acting Chief of Staff Intelligence 1978–1979	Succeeded by Himself
Preceded by Phil Pretorius	OC Northern Transvaal 1975–1976	Succeeded by Boytjie Viviers
Preceded by Mac Kotzé	Commandant Army College 1973 –1975	Succeeded by George Kruys