Mike Louw

Michael James Minaar Louw (9 November 1939 – 27 December 2009) was Director-General of the South African National Intelligence Service (NIS), and after the 1994 South African elections, was appointed as head of the new South African Secret Service. He played a key role as a representative of the South African government in the secret negotiations held between them and the ANC in exile which brought about the unbanning of the latter in 1990 and the release of Nelson Mandela.

Early life Louw grew up in Prieska, Northern Cape. He completed his secondary education at Prieska High School. His earliest intelligence career was with the SADF's Directorate Military Intelligence (DMI) which he joined in 1964. He was also involved in talks with Nelson Mandela while he was still in prison. This occurred four days after FW de Klerk's 2 February 1990 speech at the opening of parliament. Appointed in 2003, he was one of three part-time councillors on the Intelligence Services Council on Conditions of Service.