Outgoing Statistician General Dr Pali Lehohla has expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to lead Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
He said despite being a South African by naturalisation, as he comes from Lesotho, he had been given a rare privilege to lead an organisation that is crucial for the country.
Addressing a media briefing on Friday in Pretoria, where Risenga Maluleke was announced as the new Statistician General and head of Statistics SA, Lehohla thanked President Jacob Zuma for the privilege to serve the nation.
“I don’t take that for granted and I have been able, through this country, to reach heights that I never thought I could reach…that I could lead in a scientific environment as a person from outside,” Lehohla said.
As his official term of contract will come to an end at the end of this month, he said he leaves an organisation that is highly professional.
Paying tribute to Lehohla, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe said Stats SA is universally considered as the best national statistics office on the continent.
“Walking with you at the UN Head Quarters in the USA recently and noting how people across the globe recognise you and embraced your efforts, was a lesson in extraordinary commitment and a testimony to your resilience,” Minister Radebe said.
Maluleke will take office on 1 November.
He joined Stats SA in 1997 as a provincial manager for the Limpopo office and has served in various leadership as well as management roles.
“For the past nine years, he has been a Deputy Director General for Statistical Collections and Outreach.
“Maluleke has actively participated in and led the transformation agenda for statistics not only in South Africa on the African continent through his active engagement and chairing various global fora on statistical development on the continent and the Harvard Business School,” Minister Radebe said.
Maluleke holds a Master’s Degree from the Centre for Regional and Urban Statistical Explorations, a Bachelor of Science Degree (Mathematical Statistics) and Senior Leadership Certificates.
“At an international level, he has been instrumental in managing Stats SA’s participation in international meetings such as the United Nation’s Statistical Commission.
“Maluleke is indeed a well-rounded intellect, a grounded statistician and has been a committed public servant for all his working life.
“We pride ourselves that Stats SA, as our national statistics agency, continues to have independence and freedom to exercise professional will and to illuminate issues as they are in our society,” Minister Radebe said. – SAnews.gov.za
