Johannesburg - Former special adviser to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Panyaza Lesufi will become the acting director general (DG) of basic education, the department said on Monday.
Lesufi would replace former DG Bobby Soobrayan, and assume the position in an acting capacity until the end of April, spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said.
Soobrayan had been redeployed to “other responsibilities in government”, said Mhlanga.
“Soobrayan leaves the sector that is fairly stable and has already started to implement the goals of the National Development Plan,” he said.
Soobrayan had been accused of signing an agreement on behalf of the department without a proper mandate, and misusing funds from the Education Labour Relations Council during April 2012.
Mhlanga said reports from the Public Service Commission and Judge Willem van der Merwe had cleared Soobrayan.
“Soobrayan said now that his name has been cleared it would not be fair to allow the sector to be held to ransom in his name.”
Mhlanga said there had been significant achievements in the education sector since Motshekga and Soobrayan started working together since 2009.
“The upward trend in the National Senior Certificate results is but one example that can be mentioned,” he said.
Sapa