NIA mum on Shaik rumours

2009-08-31 09:01

Liesl Peyper

Cape Town – The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) would not reveal on Sunday whether Durban businessman Mo Shaik would be appointed as the agency's new director general.

NIA spokesperson, Lorna Daniels, said the announcement would be made by the presidency once all the necessary procedures had been followed.

"We can't comment."

City Press reported over the weekend that Mo Shaik - brother of the convicted former financial adviser to President Jacob Zuma, Schabir Shaik - would be appointed as the new intelligence chief.

Mo Shaik emphatically denied the allegation.

The contract of the NIA's current director general, Manala Manzini, will expire on Monday and he was apparently already informed that his term would not be extended.

Key Zuma ally

Meanwhile, Theo Coetzee, the DA's spokesperson for state security, said the party would oppose the nomination of Mo Shaik, if it was confirmed that he had been nominated.

"Mo Shaik is a key political ally and friend of President Jacob Zuma," said Coetzee.

He said Zuma was increasingly deploying his cadres to key positions.

It was precisely this tendency that had divided the government under former president Thabo Mbeki, Coetzee said, adding that if Zuma wanted a clean government, he would have to put excellence and merit before loyalty and political affiliation.

- Die Burger