The director-general of the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries has been suspended.
“This media release serves to inform you of the suspension of Mr Langa Zita... This suspension is an administrative matter,” the department said in a statement, posted on its website.
It said senior department official Sipho Ntombela was acting director-general.
No reason was given for the suspension, and the department was not immediately available for comment.
Zita's suspension has been welcomed by the Democratic Alliance.
“Mr Zita has done little to put this struggling department back on a solid footing, and the DA has in the past called for him to be removed from his post,” DA MP Annette Steyn said in a statement. - Sapa