SOUTH Africa’s main agency for government statistics said on Tuesday it is recruiting a new head to replace Mark Orkin, who has held the post since 1995. Orkin has been credited with turning the body around, making it a authoritative source of relevant market information reflecting a democratic South Africa. Finance Minister Trevor Manuel stressed that Orkin’s departure will not affect the integrity of the body which provides market-sensitive data ranging from gross domestic product to unemployment and inflation figures. “It is essential that we have a team in place at Stats SA that can deliver accurate and unimpeachable figures to the government and to civil society,” Manuel said in a statement. The body will also continue to report in conformity with IMF standards, Manuel said. Statistics South Africa said Orkin will leave for the Human Sciences Research Council in the next two to three months.