Issued by: Ministry of Labour
4 December 1999
The President has decided that the current director General of the Department of Labour, Sipho Pityana, be transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs with immediate effect.
Although I did not work with him for a lengthy period of time, I have managed to see his commitment to contribute in the transformation of our country into a better place for all. He played a leading role in bringing about changes in the labour market which we are committed to consolidate. It was both interesting and a great pleasure to work with Sipho Pityana. His transfer would be a great loss to the Department of Labour and a gain for the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, it is clear that more work has to be done at the international level today than ever before.
There is a dire need to advance forward our world affairs programme with a special focus on Africa. Our commitment to realise the rebirth of Africa will come about through a vigorous implementation of our Foreign Policy and this needs men and women of a high calibre.
The fact that the President has chosen Sipho Pityana to assume the position of leading the Department of Foreign Affairs is a clear indication of the confidence that we all have in him. He is a man of high calibre who is determined to bring about change in South Africa. He is a change agent whose abilities to strategise and conceptualise policies, programmes and indeed his excellent management skills would put the Department of Foreign Affairs in good stead.
Undoubtedly, we could have had him longer in the Department of Labour in order to consolidate the changes we have introduced in the labour market in the past few years. However, the circumstances of our times suggest a greater need for his services elsewhere. We are convinced that he will display his leadership qualities as he has done in the Department of Labour. It is without doubt that his contribution will take the Department of Foreign Affairs to the highest levels.
He was appointed in 1995 as the Director General of the Department of Labour. He oversaw the conceptualisation and development of the various policy instruments intended to bring about the transformation of the South African labour market. He has shown incredible negotiation and deal making skills as he played a leadership role in Nedlac, where he was the Overall Convenor of the government delegation, and other for a persuading the social partners of the efficacy of not only our labour market policies, but also those of government in general.
He took part in the establishment of a number of new labour market institutions such as the CCMA, the Labour Court nd others. Under his stewardship, the department developed one of the most innovative and systematic strategic plans for institutional transformation. This plan that has been used to introduce strategic management in the Department, has resulted in visible improvements in the various areas of its administration.
As a result of the impact of the transformation programme, in September 1999 the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts gave a rare acknowledgement of the improvement in the department's financial and other administration. Sipho has represented South Africa on the Governing Body of the ILO and other African and Southern African.
In 1994/95 he worked as a Registrar at the University of Fort Hare. Before becoming a Registrar of the University of Fort Hare he had worked for two years as a Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of the same University. He has also spent sometime as a Deputy Director and Senior Researcher at the Community Agency for Social Enquiry (CASE). he joined CASE after his immense contribution as a Co-ordinator for the Nelson Mandela International Reception Committee in 1990/91.
Sipho Pityana has been a trade union organiser, a Senior Researcher for the International Defence and Aid Fund (IDAF). He holds a BA (Hons) in Government and Sociology from the University of Essex. At the University of London he was conferred with an MSc in Politics and Sociology.
I would also like to announce that Advocate Rams Ramashia has been appointed as the Acting Director-General with immediate effect. Advocate Ramashia will act as the Director-General of the Department of Labour until a suitable is found.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR, MEMBATHISI MDLADLANA
For more information contact:
Pheyo Nonqane - 082-903-0120
MLO - (012) 309-4381