By Lehlohonolo Lehana
The head of National Treasury Budget Office Edgar Sishi has resigned on Wednesday (25 February) – the day which the National Budget was tabled by finance minister Enoch Godongwana.
South Africa’s 2026/27 Budget allocates R2.67 trillion to drive economic growth, strengthen public services and support long‑term national development.
National Treasury confirmed his resignation in an emailed response to Bloomberg.
Sishi, who took the helm of the budget office during the Covid-19 crisis, has been a central figure in the compilation of fiscal framework.
Fullview learnt that he plans to take up a role at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
His main role was to plan the expenditure for the government’s financial year, leading a team of more than 80 people to produce the national budget according to the Finance Minister’s requirements.
Through this, Sishi was overseeing a critical government function: effectively outlining how South Africa’s tax revenue will be spent and how the state’s expenditure program can be financed.
The budget office coordinates the national budgeting process, including coordinating and allocating resources to meet the government’s political priorities.
While political leaders, particularly the Finance Minister, determine where this money will be spent, Sishi was tasked with turning these ideas into reality in a difficult fiscal environment.
The division also provides fiscal policy advice, oversees expenditure planning and the national budget process, and leads the budget reform programme.
Sishi coordinated international technical assistance and donor finance, supported public-private partnerships (PPPs), and compiled public finance statistics.
International finance organisations, including the IMF, have praised his budget office.
According to the fund’s Open Budget Index, the National Treasury is the second-best finance ministry in the world in terms of fiscal transparency.
Despite the serious governance issues relating to state capture and widespread corruption, National Treasury has consistently been transparent in its reporting and maintains rigorous oversight of public finances.
Following his Bachelor of Economics at Rhodes University, Sishi began his career at Eskom in 1998 as an IT training and project management specialist.
After nearly a decade at the power utility, Sishi finally transitioned into a career in economics and finance, taking up the position of Deputy Director for Local Government at the National Treasury.
Sishi slowly worked his way up the Treasury ladder, being promoted in 2008 to Director of Provincial Budget Analysis and rising to become Chief Director in 2012.
During his stint as Chief Director, Sishi continued his studies, completing a Master of Science in Economics from the University of London. After finishing his studies, Sishi spent three years as a senior advisor at the IMF, working on macroeconomic policy and global financial safety matters.