South African taxpayer footing the more than R130 million salary bill for 305 suspended public servants
3 November 2022
Please find attached a soundbite by Dr Mimmy Gondwe MP.
The South African taxpayer is footing a salary bill of more than R130 million for the 305 public servants that are currently on suspension with full pay across the public service.
This was disclosed in a written reply by the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to a DA Parliamentary question on the number of public servants that are currently on suspension with full pay and the cost of these suspensions to the South African taxpayer.
According to the written reply by the DPSA, provincial departments account for the bulk of this salary bill having paid R90 million in salaries to 226 public servants that are currently on suspension with full pay and the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal is footing most (namely 36%) of this R90 million salary bill.
National departments, on the other hand, have paid R40 million in salaries to 79 public servants that are currently on suspension with full pay, with the Departments of Public Service and Administration and Public Works and Infrastructure accounting for the bulk of this R40 million salary bill.
It is important to highlight that because the written reply reflects a number of gaps in terms of the costs of some of these suspensions, the total cost of these suspensions, to the South African taxpayer, is definitely higher than the R130 million disclosed in the written reply.
The written reply by the DPSA, is also indicative of the discipline management crisis in the public service. In August this year, the DPSA conceded, during a meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, that there was no discipline management system being implemented in our country’s public service. This has, obviously, contributed towards government departments failing to manage disciplinary cases within the time frames stipulated by the Public Service Regulations.
The DA, once again, reiterates its calls for the DPSA, as the custodian of policy formulation and implementation in the public service, to urgently develop and implement a discipline management strategy, in the public service, that will ensure that this crisis does not continue to come at a great cost to the already burdened South African taxpayer.
Text of reply:
MINISTRY: PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
DATE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2022
QUESTION NO.: 3409
Dr M M Gondwe (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration:
What (a)(i) total number of public servants are currently on suspension with full pay and at (ii) cost to the Government, (b) is the breakdown of the specified number of suspended public servants in each (i) national and (ii) provincial department and (c) number of such public servants hold senior positions within the Public Service?
NW4112E
REPLY:
|
Name of Departments |
SMS Member (Level) |
Number of Precautionary suspensions cases received |
Total cost for Precautionary suspensions |
|
Agriculture, Land reform and Rural Development |
14 |
1 |
not indicated |
|
Cooperative Governance |
14 |
1 |
R 2,396,286.82 |
|
14 |
1 |
R 2,360,860.58 |
|
|
13 |
1 |
R 1,939,751.03 |
|
|
14 |
1 |
R 426,844.64 |
|
|
Correctional Services |
15 |
1 |
R 309,095.63 |
|
13 |
1 |
R 182,511.67 |
|
|
15 |
1 |
R 238,714.49 |
|
|
Defence |
0 |
1 |
R 356,171.50 |
|
Government Printing Works |
0 |
1 |
R 22,752.59 |
|
Health |
0 |
3 |
R 95,199.39 |
|
Higher Education and Training, Science & Innovation |
0 |
12 |
R 2,549,231.00 |
|
Home Affairs |
15 |
1 |
R 956,198.25 |
|
14 |
1 |
R 859,747.00 |
|
|
13 |
1 |
R 654,631.25 |
|
|
13 |
1 |
R 94,921.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 790,611.21 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 502,049.41 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 500,233.08 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 199,930.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 171,056.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 178,863.75 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 163,806.00 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 163,806.00 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 149,802.00 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 184,281.75 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 171,056.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 184,281.75 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 171,056.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 39,747.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 40,344.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 40,951.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 20,781.50 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 20,172.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 20,172.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 20,172.25 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 21,781.00 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 94,921.50 |
|
|
Independent police Investigative Directorate |
13 |
6 |
R - |
|
International Relations and Cooperation |
0 |
1 |
R 3,158.38 |
|
Justice and Constitutional Development |
0 |
1 |
R 642,798.67 |
|
0 |
1 |
R 1,773,149.72 |
|
|
0 |
1 |
R 2,654,793.91 |
|
|
Military Veterans |
14 |
4 |
R 3,778,958.91
|
|
National Prosecuting Authority |
14 |
1 |
R 292,528.70 |
|
1 |
R 235,925.36 |
||
|
1 |
R 53,470.45 |
||
|
Office of Chief Justice |
0 |
1 |
R 2,985,711.13 |
|
0 |
1 |
R 94,841.55 |
|
|
Public Enterprises |
16 |
1 |
R 28,734.95 |
|
Public Service and Administration |
15 |
1 |
R 4,951,979.60 |
|
Public Works and Infrastructure |
16 |
1 |
R 3,957,066.00 |
|
0 |
1 |
R 89,538.75 |
|
|
Science and Innovation |
0 |
1 |
R 1,190,868,66 |
|
Water and Sanitation |
0 |
3 |
R 15,651.08 |
|
The Presidency |
13 |
1 |
R 215,374.05 |
|
TOTAL |
19 |
79 |
R 40 257 345,63 |
(b) (i) Breakdown of suspended public servants in Provincial Departments:
|
Provinces |
Provincial Departments |
Number of Precautionary suspensions received |
SMS |
Total cost for Precautionary suspension |
|
Eastern Cape |
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Community Safety |
1 |
0 |
R 1,208,961.00 |
|
|
Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Education |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Health |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Human Settlements |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Roads and Public Works and Infrastructure |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Rural Development and Agrarian Reform |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Safety and Liaison |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Social Development |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Transport |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Total |
1 |
0 |
R 1,208,961.00 |
|
|
Free State |
Agriculture and Rural Development |
3 |
0 |
R 2,659,259.57 |
|
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
DESTEA |
1 |
1 |
R 12,551.07 |
|
|
Education |
1 |
0 |
R 187,885.70 |
|
|
Health |
7 |
0 |
R 805,249.33 |
|
|
Human Settlements |
2 |
1 |
R 2,381,250.03 |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Police, Roads and Transport |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
1 |
0 |
R 48,087.60 |
|
|
Public Works & Infrastructure |
2 |
0 |
R 145,487.54 |
|
|
Social Development |
1 |
1 |
R 41,871.61 |
|
|
Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Total |
18 |
3 |
R 6,281,642.45 |
|
|
Gauteng |
Agriculture and Rural Development |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
Education |
4 |
|||
|
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
||||
|
Community Safety |
3 |
0 |
R 117,978.71 |
|
|
Economic Development |
7 |
3 |
R 5,650,621.08 |
|
|
E-Government |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Health |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Human Settlements |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Infrastructure Development |
9 |
3 |
R 1,831,135.27 |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Roads and Transport |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Social Development |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Sports, Arts , Culture and Recreation |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
TOTAL |
23 |
6 |
R 7,599,735.06 |
|
|
Kwazulu-Natal |
Agriculture and Rural Development |
6 |
1 |
R 1,517,725.00 |
|
Arts and Culture |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Community Safety |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
3 |
1 |
R 2,380,756.00 |
|
|
Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs |
2 |
2 |
R 819,973.00 |
|
|
Education |
28 |
3 |
R 4,991,434.50 |
|
|
Health |
22 |
1 |
R 3,305,739.53 |
|
|
Human Settlements |
0 |
R - |
||
|
Office of the Premier |
4 |
2 |
R 6,509,741.00 |
|
|
Social Development |
7 |
5 |
R 8,394,222.35 |
|
|
Sport and Recreation |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Public Works |
1 |
1 |
R 3,376,082.40 |
|
|
Transport |
2 |
2 |
R 2,235,369.80 |
|
|
Total |
75 |
18 |
R 33,531,043.58 |
|
|
Limpopo |
Agriculture and Rural Development |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
COGHSTA |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Education |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Health |
9 |
0 |
R No cost indicated - |
|
|
Limpopo Depart. of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Social Development |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Sports, Arts and Culture |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Transport and Community Safety. |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Total |
9 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Mpumalanga |
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environment Affairs |
0 |
0 |
0
|
|
Community Safety, Security and Liaison |
4 |
0 |
R 195,439.56 |
|
|
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs |
1 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Culture, Sports and recreation |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Economic Development and Tourism |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Education |
5 |
0 |
R 2,132,884.31 |
|
|
Health |
14 |
0 |
Not indicated |
|
|
Human Settlements |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
2 |
0 |
R 509,482.95 |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Transport, Safety and Liaison |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Public Works, Roads and Transport |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Social Development |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Total |
26 |
0 |
R 2,837,806.82 |
|
|
Northern Cape |
Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Economic Development and Tourism |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Education |
12 |
0 |
R 5,713,629.00 |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Roads and Public Works |
4 |
R 36,189.00 |
||
|
Sports and Arts and Culture |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Social Development |
2 |
0 |
R 270,956.56 |
|
|
Health |
10 |
0 |
R 18,740,641.63 |
|
|
Transport, Safety and Liaison |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Total |
28 |
0 |
R 24,761,416.19 |
|
|
North West |
Agriculture & Rural development |
2 |
2 |
R 429,472.00 |
|
Arts , Culture Sports and Recreation |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Corporative Governance & Traditional Affairs |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Community Safety and Transport Management |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Economic Development Environment, Conservation & Tourism |
1 |
0 |
R 210,805.23 |
|
|
Education |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Health |
12 |
2 |
R 11,473,472.27 |
|
|
Human Settlements (New department) |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Office of the Premier |
2 |
0 |
R 263,485.50 |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Public Works and Roads |
1 |
0 |
R 167,346.62 |
|
|
Social Development |
No report |
No report |
No report |
|
|
Total |
18 |
4 |
R 12,544,581.62 |
|
|
Western Cape |
Agriculture |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
Community Safety |
5 |
4 |
R 672,487.25 |
|
|
Cultural Affairs and Sport |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Economic Development and Tourism |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Education |
7 |
3 |
R 155,862.21 |
|
|
Environmental and Development Planning |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Health |
11 |
0 |
R 473,464.83 |
|
|
Human Settlements |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Local Government |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Provincial Treasury |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
Social Development |
2 |
0 |
R 461,437.61 |
|
|
The Premier |
3 |
0 |
R 178,891.90 |
|
|
Transport and Public Works |
0 |
0 |
R - |
|
|
TOTAL |
28 |
7 |
R 1,942,143.80 |
|
|
|
Grand Total |
226 |
38 |
R 90 707 330,52 |
(a) (i) Total number of public servants currently on suspension with full pay: 305
(ii) Cost to the Government: R 130 964 676,15.
(b) (i) Breakdown of suspended public servants in National Departments:
(c) Number of senior public servants on precautionary suspension: 57
NOTE: The information used for this response was obtained from the FOSAD reports sent to the DPSA as at 30 June 2022.
ENDS
Issued by Mimmy Gondwe, DA Shadow Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, 3 November 2022
