New head for Statistics SA welcomes
STATISTICIAN-GENERAL Risenga Maluleke will take over the hot seat as head of Stats SA on November 1.
Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe yesterday welcomed Maluleke as the institution’s new chief and thanked his predecessor, Pali Lehohla, for his contribution.
Maluleke, whose career as a statistician at the organisation spans 20 years, said he intends to continue where Lehohla had left off, without the yellow suit!
“Let me mention that I have no aspirations to follow (on) Pali Lehohla’s (example) and put on a yellow suit,” he said. Maluleke said although statisticians field question from the media about policy matters, they answer by explaining the role of Stats SA.
“The role of Stats SA is to measure and illuminate issues impartially without taste buds,” said Maluleke, who will officially assume office on November 1.
He assured the country that he will take his work seriously.
“I have been in Stats SA for 20 years. There is nothing that I don’t know... I understand its successes and where issues need to be tweaked to go forward,” he said.
Lehohla, who has been at the helm of the entity for 17 years, said he was happy to leave the organisation in highly professional hands.
He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to former presidents and to President Jacob Zuma for allowing him to serve the country as Stats SA head.
“I take it that, yes, I am not a South African by naturalisation, I come from Lesotho, but this country gave me a rare privilege to lead the organisation,” he said.
Radebe said: “I am indeed happy to announce that Mr Maluleke, with all his passion, commitment and institutional memory will serve to ensure ... that Stats SA delivers on its historic journey of making the institution the pre-eminent conduit of trust,” he said.
He praised Lehohla for his valuable commitment and announced that preparations were underway for a function befitting his contribution to Stats SA.
“Dr Lehohla, under your leadership, Stats SA is universally considered as the best national statistics office on the continent. Walking with you at the UN headquarters in the US recently, and noting how people across the globe recognise you and embrace your efforts was a lesson in extraordinary commitment and a testimony to your resilience,” he said.
Radebe also alluded to the centenary celebration of the ANC stalwart Oliver Tambo, which will take place on October 27 at the late leader’s birthplace in Nkantolo in the Eastern Cape.
He said on the eve of the occasion former President Thabo Mbeki will deliver a memorial lecture hosted by the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation at the Wits University Great Hall.