South African Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Wednesday announced the resignation of his director general Advocate Rams Ramashia.
Mdladlana said Ramashia had played a leading role in the successes enjoyed by the Department of Labour since his appointment in 2000.
The Minister said it was therefore with a degree of sadness that he accepted Ramashia’s desire to leave, and wished him all success in his future endeavours.
”As someone with his skills and talents a number of opportunities have presented themselves and he has indicated he wishes to pursue an option in the private sector that will provide him a platform to continue driving the transformation agenda of government,” the Minister said.
Ramashia leaves the department seven months before the scheduled expiry of his five-year contract.
Mdladlana announced that Doctor Vanguard Mkosana — currently the deputy director general: service delivery — would be appointed acting director general with effect from 16 May 16.
Mkosana joined the department in 2000 as deputy director general: internal management and operations. He was born in Idutywa in the Eastern Cape and worked as a miner and a teacher.
While working in the mining industry he joined the African National Congress and went into exile in 1980. While in Lesotho he played a role in the committee focusing on the mining industry that played a leading role in the formation of the National Union of Mineworkers.
He later served on the executive committee of the South African Congress of Trade Unions. After returning from exile in 1990, Mkosana joined the South African Railways and Harbours Workers Union as head of the media department. He also served as general secretary of the Congress of South African Writers. Before joining the department Mkosana gained extensive experience in the Eastern Cape provincial government. – I-Net Bridge