Departure of Treasury DG, Peters resigns as MP in wake of Zuma reshuffle

THE cabinet reshuffle has seen the departure of National Treasury director-general Lungisa Fuzile and axed transport minister Dipuo Peters.

Both confirmed their resignations yesterday with an analyst warning that he hoped the departure of Fuzile would not see the exodus of senior staff at the Treasury.

Peters cited ill-health for resigning as ANC MP after she was fired by President Jacob Zuma in a cabinet reshuffle.

Parliament confirmed that Peters quit on March 31, a few hours after Zuma enforced the changes in his cabinet.

Fuzile said yesterday he had indicated to former finance minister Pravin Gordhan last week that he wanted to leave in May. This followed the extension of his contract last year for two years until May 2018.

However, he said he wanted to leave sooner.

Fuzile had been with the Treasury for 20 years in various positions, but six years as director-general.

He succeeded Lesetja Kganyago, who is now the governor of the South African Reserve Bank.

Prof Dirk Kotze of Unisa said the departure of Fuzile was a consequence of the cabinet reshuffle. “However, at the same time his contract came to an end and it was extended to next year,” said Kotze.

Kotze said he hoped Fuzile’s exit from the Treasury would not lead to the exodus of more senior staff members.

Fuzile was the most senior person in the department and with many years’ experience.

Kotze said the Treasury must prevent what happened at Sars when it lost 55 senior people in a short period.

Gordhan revealed in a parliamentary written reply last year that Sars had paid out millions of rand for the departure of top officials.

He said six officials were paid a total of R20 million after they left Sars.

Kotze said the resignation of Peters was linked to the fact that she had lost her position as minister.

He said this happened when Zuma axed some of the former ministers in his cabinet after the 2014 elections, including Marthinus van Schalkwyk, S’bu Ndebele and others.

The two were later posted overseas as diplomats, although Ndebele returned as ambassador to Australia last year to face corruption charges.