President Jacob Zuma has requested the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Max Sisulu, to appoint General Siphiwe Nyanda (rtd) as the President's Parliamentary Counsellor in the National Assembly with immediate effect.

General Nyanda will be the President's personal representative in Parliament, keeping him abreast regarding developments and providing advice on the course of action required on issues. The President ceased to be a member of the National Assembly soon after election as President, in terms of the Constitution of the Republic.

He will manage the President's liaison with presiding officers and structures in Parliament as well as relations with leaders of political parties represented in Parliament.

Said General Nyanda: "I look forward to this deployment and the opportunity to contribute to strengthening relations between Parliament and the Executive. I am also encouraged by the President's determination to promote good working relations with political parties represented in Parliament. We have to further develop these relations so that we can identify and highlight issues that are in the national interest, that we can work on together".

General Nyanda, a former journalist, is the former Minister of Communications. Amongst many senior positions in the military, he served as the Chief of the South African National Defence Force and as Chief of Staff of the ANC's military wing, uMkhonto Wesizwe.

Statement issued by The Presidency, November 25 2010

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter