The 45-year-old, who has been serving as Bafana Bafana assistant for the past four years and was also the number two at the World Cup, was the only person in the running for the job.

He has signed a four-year contract.

Mosimane's candidacy was approved two weeks ago when the South African Football Association (SAFA) called an urgent press conference, only to announce that he would be assessed by a special technical committee, who were to report back within 14 days.

He was briefly in charge of the national team in 2006, prior to Brazilian Parreira's initial appointment.

"I have arrived here not to turn things upside down," Mosimane said. "But I will make changes if necessary, even if they are unpopular."

SAFA chief executive Leslie Sedibe explained that the former SuperSport United coach had performance clauses in his contract, which clearly stated that he needed to guide the team to qualification for the next two African Nations Cups as well as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"Pitso understands fully the performance goals he has to meet," he said.

"We are impressed and confident that he can achieve them."

South Africa begin their qualifying campaign for the 2012 continental championship with a home qualifier against Niger in September.

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Sedibe also confirmed that Mosimane's first game in charge will be against World Cup quarter-finals Ghana in a friendly at Soccer City on August 11.

He added: "We have worked tirelessly to secure quality opponents for our senior team in preparing for the tough assignment of qualifying for the AFCON finals.

"Our choice of opponents is an indication that we mean business, and we need to take on the best if we are to be the greatest on the African continent."

The 1996 African champions will also play another friendly against a yet to be named opponent on November 17.