THE director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, Gibson Njenje, has been forced out of his post in a crisis in the intelligence community also embroiling secret service boss Mo Shaik, it was reported yesterday.

The Sunday Independent quoted state security ministry spokesperson Brian Dube as saying Njenje had resigned, but the spy chief denied this.

"I am planning to go to work on Monday (today). I am in talks with the minister. But I am not aware that I have resigned."

City Press reported that State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele had asked Shaik and the head of the State Security Agency, Jeff Maqetuka, to quit, but said they had refused and sought legal advice.

According to the Sunday Independent Njenje, Shaik and Maqetuka recently complained to President Jacob Zuma about difficulties in their relationship with Cwele.

Njenje is reported to have been unhappy about "unauthorised" operations that flew in the face of his efforts to ensure that the NIA is not exploited for political purposes.

City Press said he was also unhappy about a decision to grant Cwele's wife Cheryl full intelligence protection throughout her drug trafficking trial