President Thabo Mbeki has appointed Deputy Auditor General Terence Nombembe to replace retiring AG Shauket Fakie with effect from December 1, Parliament announced on Tuesday.
Nombembe has been Deputy AG for the past five years and his term of office in the top post will be seven years.
"Nombembe is the first African to hold the position of Auditor-General in South Africa in the history of the organisation's 95 years," Parliament said in a statement.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Transkei in 1982, and started his career as a trainee accountant with KPMG in Umtata in 1983.
In 1986, he completed his Bachelor of Computing (Honours) at the University of South Africa, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990.
Nombembe said he was humbled by the confidence Mbeki and Parliament had shown in him to lead this important institution.
"With the backing of my team, I am up to the challenge. I am equally excited about my new role and the contribution my office will continue to make to strengthen our country's democracy," he said.
Fakie said: "With a leader like Terence at the helm, I know and am confident the Auditor General is in capable and safe hands.
"During the time we have closely worked together, he struck me as a visionary who is prepared to motivate and work closely with his team to achieve our common vision of delivering efficient service to our stakeholders.
"I am confident he will protect the gains we have made in transforming the office - maintaining the independence of the office through integrity, transparency and accountability; help consolidate the development plans we have put in place; and add his distinctive leadership touch when directing the dedicated team of professionals behind the office's continued success," Fakie said.
Nombembe is married to Nokwanda and has three children, Mphiwa, Fezekile and Kamvalethu. - Sapa