Donaldson, a deputy director general who has served as the acting head of the Government Technical Advisory Centre, left at the end of March, Treasury spokeswoman Yolisa Tyantsi said.
The department said Donaldson was approaching 60 and has for some time indicated that he wanted to take early retirement, after more than two decades at National Treasury.
Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s spokesman, Mayihlome Tshwete, sought to counter any suggestion that his departure is linked to the sacking of Pravin Gordhan as finance minister.
“He said last year already that he wanted to leave.”
Tshwete confirmed that National Treasury has received 30 application for the post of director-general, which will be vacated by Lungisa Fuzile next week.
Fuzile indicated that he wanted to cut short his contract shortly after Gordhan was fired.