Lack of leadership stability in the top echelons of government is threatening to paralyse President Jacob Zuma's administration - 16 departments are now without permanent heads. The result is that a number of government projects are grinding to a halt because those who are in charge in an acting capacity are reluctant to make major decisions.Government officials and independent observers say both service delivery and efforts to root out maladministration are suffering.Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi told the Sunday Times this week that he had put pressure on ministers to fill the vacant posts, but that had made him unpopular with his cabinet colleagues.story_article_left1Ramatlhodi blamed the high turnover in department heads on the fact that whenever new ministers were appointed to portfolios they invariably got rid of the incumbent directors-general."We are worried ... I do write to my colleagues and I am not very popular as a result," said Ramatlhodi."Whenever there is a new minister or an executive authority they get rid of the director-general. But that kills the ability of the departments to deliver services."The departments without permanent directors-general include communications, mineral resources, state security, police, co-operative governance, water and sanitation and economic development.Communications Minister Faith Muthambi's department has not had a permanent director-general since it was established in 2014.This has affected its ability to roll out the digital migration programme. Ndivhuho Munzhelele has been acting in this position.The Department of Economic Development also struggled to find a permanent head and senior managers shortly after it was established in 2009. Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane was appointed department head in 2012, but three years later she moved on to other government posts.Thibedi Ramontja quit as mineral resources director-general in December last year, three months after Mosebenzi Zwane was appointed minister, citing "personal reasons" for his departure. No replacement has been found.The contract of former State Security Agency director-general Sonto Kudjoe was abruptly terminated last month, less than three years into her five-year term.block_quotes_start It's symptomatic of the poor governance that we are experiencing from the president himself, and that dysfunction shapes how departments and ministries are run block_quotes_endRosey Sekese, director-general of the Department of Telecommunications, has been suspended for more than a year while the department struggles to fix the Post Office and drags its feet over the regulation of data costs.The Department of International Relations is without a director-general after Jerry Matjila retired. The department is now facing an internal revolt against senior managers, and staff members in the National Health Education and Allied Workers Union plan to strike next week.Margaret-Ann Diedricks quit as director-general of the Department of Water and Sanitation in July, around the time that allegations of gross misconduct against minister Nomvula Mokonyane relating to the Lesotho Highlands Project were made public.Other departments, such as police and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, face uncertainty as their heads face suspension. Ipid head Robert McBride recently won a court case that could see parliament reverse his suspension.In some departments where directors-general have been suspended, senior managers have accused the acting heads of purging staff who appear to remain loyal to the suspended officials.story_article_right2Judith February, senior researcher of governance at the Institute for Security Studies, said the high vacancy rate at the director-general level was further proof that the Zuma administration was directionless."It's symptomatic of the poor governance that we are experiencing from the president himself, and that dysfunction shapes how departments and ministries are run," she said."It's a symptom of a broader malaise of a government that has lost its direction."Acting appointments create a further lack of clarity and uncertainty within departments, which is obviously undesirable. This has been the hallmark of this administration - many cabinet changes and acting appointments," said February.An official who had once worked in the Department of Economic Development said it was difficult to roll out government programmes when there was a lack of leadership continuity.By the time of going to press yesterday none of the departments approached for comment had responded to e-mailed questions.hunterq@sundaytimes.co.za, mokoneth@sundaytimes.co.za..