In a major climbdown‚ the ANC has withdrawn the name of its former MP Cecil Burgess to fill the position of inspector-general of intelligence (IGI).

The IGI is a key position‚ and the incumbent acts as inspector to ensure that the country’s spies act within the law.

Because the integrity of the IGI is so important‚ the appointment of the IGI can only take place if two-thirds of the National Assembly supports the person nominated.

The position has been vacant for almost a year now because the ANC‚ which lacks a two thirds majority on its own‚ wanted to install Burgess‚ who gained notoriety for the way he bulldozed the Secrecy Bill through parliament‚ into the position.

Opposition parties‚ notably the DA‚ EFF‚ IFP and UDM‚ refused to budge despite special lobbying on Burgess’s behalf by‚ among others‚ National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete and State Security Minister David Mahlobo.

Thus the ANC could not muster the required votes.

The opposition coalition was continuously rallied by DA chief whip John Steenhuisen‚ and withstood various ANC and government enticements.

In the meantime‚ the Right2Know campaign started legal proceedings against parliament for its failure to do its constitutional duty and appoint a new IGI.

Caught between a rock and a hard place‚ the ANC caved in on Wednesday and referred the appointment of an IGI back to the joint standing committee on intelligence.

The process will now start anew.

Steenhuisen has expressed his satisfaction with the news that Burgess’s appointment has been averted.