Nine candidates have been shortlisted for the position of director of the parliamentary budget office (PBO) that advises parliamentary committees on the budget and other financial matters.
They include the acting head of National Treasury’s budget office Ian Stuart, who has been key to the formulation of the national budget in the trying times of fiscal consolidation and economic contraction.
Stuart who took over the budget office in November 2017 after the departure of Michael Sachs recently went on sabbatical and was temporarily replaced by Edgar Sishi, also in an acting capacity.
The shortlisted candidates also include present chair of the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC), Prof Daniel Plaatjies; former FFC CEO and acting chair Bongani Khumalo; and three current PBO deputy directors, Dumisani Jantjies, Seeraj Mohamed and Nelia Orlandi.
The other three candidates are Dzingai Chapfuwa, formerly a chief director in the department of public enterprises and an economist with the Treasury; Lungelwa Kaywood, a senior researcher with the SA Local Government Association; and Jacobus Mostert, a director of macro-economic analysis with the Limpopo Treasury department.
Of the nine applicants recommended for shortlisting, five have PhDs, two have two master’s degrees, and two have one master’s degree.
The position of director of the PBO fell vacant after the resignation of the previous incumbent, Prof Mohammed Jahed about a year ago.
Parliament’s two finance committees and two appropriation committees were presented with the shortlist at a meeting on Friday. The nine were shortlisted by a subcommittee from a total of 56 applications, only 13 of which met the minimum requirements and who will be interviewed before the end of the month.
The minimum requirements include a master’s degree in finance, economics, public finance or a related field, with a doctorate being preferable.
Also required is a minimum of 10 years relevant experience as an analyst or researcher in a related field, and two years at senior management level.
The chosen individual will have to be fit and proper, and pass the security clearance by the SA Police Service and State Security Agency, as well as the qualification and SA citizenship check.
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