PRETORIA, The Director General at South Africa’s National Treasury, Lungisa Fuzile, will leave the Treasury next month, more than a year ahead of the expiry of his contract in May next year, and just days after the former Finance Minister was dropped from the Cabinet.

The Treasury said in a statement here Wedmesday that Fuzile had last week requested former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for a re-determination of his contract so that he could leave the post on May 15, 2017. “He has been indicating his desire to leave Treasury for some time, the statement added.

The Treasury said Fuzile had been focusing on ensuring a smooth hand over to the new Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba.

While Fuzile has indicated his flexibility to stay on for a reasonable amount of time if needed, he and the Minister are in discussions on how to ensure that a smooth transition and the institutional strength of National Treasury is sustained and reinforced,” the statement said.

On continuity, Fuzile says his departure and that of his previous principals should not necessarily lead to a change of course as the mandate of National Treasury is reinforced by the Constitution and a number of other legislations.

The Director-General said National Treasury officials are competent, highly skilled professionals who are very conscious of their higher duty. Their commitment and diligence is not attached to a Minister, and they will continue to serve the nation to ensure protection of the fiscus and the sound financial management in South Africa under the current leadership of Minister Malusi Gigaba and Deputy Minister Sfiso Buthelezi.

Fuzile will leave National Treasury after 20 years of service. He moved within the ranks from a Deputy Director after joining in 1998. In May 2017, he will be completing six years in his role as Director General of National Treasury.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK