Mantashe made a point of the senior management hunt this week in a statement.

"Aware that most senior management is in an acting capacity, we have prioritised to fill vacant positions in the department," he said.

"There is a great potential in the department, also the ability to overcome past and present challenges.

"We will, therefore, delve into all allegations of corruption and manipulation of processes levelled at the department."

The department is looking for a deputy director general for mineral regulation and mineral policy and promotion, a risk management and state-owned enterprise director, mineral regulation director, support services director, gold and platinum director and security risk management director.

The policy job seems to have the most aspirational purview: the winning applicant will need to (deep breath) "ensure full participation of mining and minerals industry of South Africa in shaping the destiny of the industry both globally and in the African continent by playing a leading role in international forums".

This job search is going on while parliamentarians mull a deeper look at Zwane's tenure.

He has been accused of collusion with the Guptas over the Free State dairy farm grant rort in his previous job and the sale of the Optimum coal mine to Tegeta while mining minister.

The minerals resources committee said it would look into a possible "breach of the constitution" over conflicts of interest by Zwane and his "fruitless and wasteful [travel] expenditure", as well as his methods of firing and hiring DMR officials.

Applications for the DMR jobs close on April 6.