BusinessLive reports that half of the most senior posts at the National Treasury, which are integral to the workings of the government, have been filled by officials only in an acting capacity.  

Some of the officials have been acting for two years.  The situation is viewed as extremely serious by a number of economists and analysts, particularly at a time when the government’s financial position has deteriorated significantly due to poor economic growth, lower-than-expected revenue and additional bailouts for parastatals.  With the recent exit of former assets and liability management head Anthony Julies, the number of acting appointments at deputy director-general (DDG) level — who head up the Treasury’s 10 divisions — has risen to five.  Experts warn of the demoralising effect of the failure to permanently appoint officials, who are sought after in the private sector and by other institutions such as the Reserve Bank, as well as the effect it has on efforts to correct SA’s deteriorating fiscal metrics.  According to the Treasury, the initial process of filling vacant DDG positions was interrupted by the departure of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.  It was also affected by the reorganisation of national government announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa.  The current executive vacancies “does not imply that there are no suitable candidates either within the organisation or outside it” to take on these roles, Treasury said.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lynley Donnelly at BusinessLive

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