Understaffed Premier's Office not doing its job‚ says DA

01 December 2015 - 17:38 By TMG Digital

An understaffed Gauteng Premier's Office is not fulfilling its functions and service delivery is suffering as a result‚ the Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday. The Gauteng Premier’s office is meant to be staffed by 556 employees‚ but as many as 96 posts are empty.Although the Premier’s Office “is not a delivery department‚ it is key to ensuring that delivery does happen in this province”‚ said Jack Bloom‚ DA Member of Oversight Committee on the Premier’s Office.Speaking during the debate on the annual report of the Gauteng Premier’s Office‚ he said that according to the Public Service Commission (PSC)‚ a vacancy rate beyond 10% is considered a high vacancy rate and is unacceptable.The Premier’s Office admitted that : “The impact of the personnel shortage has been that planned deliverables were reprioritised‚ downscaled or rescheduled.”Bloom said across all departments‚ a total of 24527 posts were vacant in Gauteng.“The PSC is also critical of long turn-around times to fill critical posts and reports that in the last financial year‚ only 21 percent of the disciplinary hearings were held within the prescribed 60 day period.R12 million was spent on salaries for suspended officials‚ of which 90% (which is R10.6 million) was spent on salaries for officials who were suspended for more than 60 days.”He said in the past 5 years‚ Gauteng had lost R92 million due to financial misconduct. “There were 122 cases of financial misconduct‚ mostly for theft‚ fraud and corruption‚ but only four officials were criminally charged‚ which is a prosecution rate of 3 percent.”..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.