Pretoria - The Department of Higher Education has announced that Gwebinkundla Qonde has been appointed to act as Director General (DG) while Mary Metcalfe is on leave.
A statement by the department on Monday said Metcalfe had requested to go on leave for a few weeks and that Qonde, who is an advisor to Minister Blade Nzimande, would act until further notice.
The minister wished Qonde all the best with his new responsibilities and urged all colleagues, within and outside the department, to offer him their full support.
Last week, the department said Metcalfe would leave the department by the end of April 2011 as she had been appointed to establish the department - after the former Department of Education was split into two - and a solid foundation in this regard had been laid.
The minister and Metcalfe have dismissed speculation that Nzimande had demanded Metcalfe to resign because of a break down in relations.
