News24 reports that Advocate Doctor Mashabane has been appointed as the new director-general of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Deverlopment. His appointment was announced following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.  

Mashabane's appointment will likely provide impetus to Minister Ronald Lamola's aim to "renew" the department.  He returns to the department, having started there in 2002 in the constitutional development branch. In a statement on Thursday, Lamola congratulated Mashabane on his appointment. Lamola's spokesperson Chrispin Phiri pointed out that Mashabane had served SA in numerous capacities in the diplomatic space.  He has over 15 years of experience at senior management level in public service and holds a Masters of Law in International Human Rights Law from the University of Pretoria.  In November last year, Lamola told MPs that his department was in "desperate need of renewal".  This was after the committee expressed its concern about the department's declining performance.  The committee also raised concerns that the department had a vacancy rate of 23.4% at senior management level.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24

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