President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday described former National Intelligence Agency head, Dr Sizakele Sigxashe, as “a selfless” and “committed struggle activist”.
Zuma said Sigxashe, who died on Tuesday aged 74, “served NIA with pride, efficiency and diligence as its top civil servant and an accounting officer”.
Before that Sigxashe had served the intelligence unit of the African National Congress in exile. He also worked as chair of the Intelligence Services Council on Conditions of Service before he was made military intelligence researcher and then later seconded to the defence ministry in Angola in 1976.
Sigxashe joined the ANC in 1959 and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in 1970. He completed a PhD in Economics in Russia and thereafter worked as university lecturer in Dar es Salaam in the 1970s, while doing underground work for the ANC.
“A committed struggle activist, Dr Sigxashe joined the ranks of freedom fighters who left South Africa after the Rivonia treason trial to join the underground operations of the African National Congress,” Zuma said.
Sigxashe joined the MK's intelligence arm when it was formed in 1978 and eventually became director-general of NIA's domestic operations after being rewarded for his long service in the organisation as one of “its low-key background operatives”.
“His selfless service to the people of South Africa will be sorely missed,” Zuma said.
“On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, we convey our deepest condolences and may his soul rest in peace.” - Sapa