MPUMALANGA’S provincial director general, Frank Mbatha, has resigned and will leave his post on January 15. The province has not yet begun interviewing a successor to the post, one of the most powerful in the administration. Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa’s spokesperson, Oupa Pilane, confirmed the resignation on Wednesday. Mbatha stressed that his resignation was voluntary but declined to comment on plans to enter the private sector. Mbatha spearheaded the establishment of Mpumalanga’s provincial administration and other government structures when he was appointed provincial director general in 1994. His authority began slipping towards the end of 1998, however, when he was unable to force departmental heads to answer for alleged tender and contract irregularities.