Controversial Department of Fisheries acting deputy director-general Desmond Stevens has been removed from his position following the bungled allocation of fishing rights.
Stevens had been in charge of the reallocation of line-fishing rights but the process became mired in controversy. Of the 405 fishing rights granted in 2005, only 105 had been renewed.
Those who lost out questioned the process, demanded to see their score-sheets and threatened legal action against the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. They were later given a two-month grace period during which they could continue to fish.
Previous rights holders took the department to court to invalidate the whole process.
Stevens insisted that everything was above board. He blamed the protests on white rights holders.
A Fisheries official said the minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, had been "unhappy" with the process.
"She was brought under an impression that was not a true reflection of the situation on the ground," said the official.
The minister's spokesman, Palesa Mokomele, said Stevens was on leave after "a very rigorous process" and another official would act in the position.
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