There has been mixed reaction to Tuesday's resignation by one of the founding pillars of South Africa's democratic government, Joel Netshitenzhe.

The former director-general of the Policy Coordination and Advisory Services Unit left his post on Tuesday.

The Presidency says he left on good terms after talks with the Minister for the National Planning Commission Trevor Manuel.

For the past 15 years Netshitenzhe, who played an influential role in determining government's national policies, enjoyed direct access to former president Thabo Mbeki. But after President Jacob Zuma's government reconfiguration on Monday he was faced with a technical demotion.

He would not longer have access to Zuma directly and would have to deal with the president's director-general Vusi Mavimbela.

Sources in the Presidency say Netshitenzhe, a strong Mbeki ally, feels like he is not trusted anymore, which is why he stepped down. But the Presidency is trying to squash the rumour, saying he remains a respected ruling party member who felt it was simply time to move on.