Start of exodus as Peters, Treasury DG resign?
THE cabinet reshuffle has seen the departure of National Treasury director-general Lungisa Fuzile and axed Minister of Transport 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 dead-of-the-night cabinet reshuffle.
Parliament confirmed that Peters quit on March 31, a few hours after Zuma rung the changes in his cabinet.
Fuzile said yesterday that he 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, six of them 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.” The cabinet reshuffle hastened his exit.
Kotze said he hoped Fuzile’s exit from the treasury would not lead to the exodus of more senior staff. Fuzile was the most senior person in the department and with many years of experience.
He said 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.