Former transport minister and veteran ANC and SA Communist Party member Mac Maharaj has been appointed "special envoy", President Jacob Zuma announced on Friday.

At the same time, Zuma announced the appointment of current South African ambassador to the United States Welile Nhlapo as national security special advisor.

"The Presidency will be greatly strengthened by these appointments," it said in a statement.

"Both individuals bring to their positions extensive experience, expertise and knowledge."

Maharaj played a key role in the negotiation process to South Africa's first democratic elections, and was joint secretary in 1994 of the Transitional Executive Council.

A political activist since the early 1950s, he was a member of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto weSizwe.

He went into exile in 1976 after escaping from the house arrest order that was immediately imposed on him in Durban after serving 12 years imprisonment.

After 12 years in exile, Maharaj returned to South Africa as commander of Operation Vula. He served on the ANC National Executive Committee and was a member of the SACP's political bureau and central committee.

Nhlapo's history

Before being appointed ambassador to the US, Nhlapo served as special envoy to Burundi.

He was the head of the technical team that assisted then deputy president Zuma in the Burundi negotiations.

In 1995, he was appointed South African ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

In 1998, he was appointed deputy director general responsible for Africa in the foreign affairs department.

In 2001, he was appointed head of the presidential support unit which advised the Presidency on conflict situations in Africa and the Middle East.

He assumed the post of Ambassador to the US in August 2007.

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