POLITICS

R5,2m spent on suspended DoL employees - Ian Ollis

DA MP says Advocate N Phasha's suspension alone has cost R3,4m since October 2011

Suspended Department of Labour employees costing taxpayer R5.2 million

4 March 2015

In a reply to a DA parliamentary question the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, revealed that there are currently 16 government officials within the Department of Labour who are on suspension with full pay, costing the taxpayer R5.2 million to date.

I have written to Minister Oliphant requesting her to commit to a date by which these disciplinary hearings will be conducted, so that the 16 suspensions can be concluded as soon as possible.

In terms of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures for the Public Service, prompt investigations must be conducted and disciplinary hearings must be held within 60 days from the date of suspension.

This is clearly not happening, and with a public sector wage bill amounting to a staggering R439 billion per year, government must do all it can to mitigate such unnecessary expense.

One of the 16 suspended is the Department's Chief Director of Legal Services, Advocate N. Phasha, who has been suspended with full pay since October 2011. With a monthly salary of R82 346, his "on-going" suspension has to date cost the state a massive R3 376 186.

The Department of Labour by nature should be the forerunner in disciplinary processes, leading by example. Yet it is unable to adequately deal with its own internal processes - Advocate Phasha's 41 month suspension being the prime example of this.

It is unacceptable that ordinary tax paying South Africans are footing the bill for a host of suspended employee's salaries, placing an unnecessary strain on the public purse.

Minister Oliphant must act with urgency to resolve this mess.

Text of reply:

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

125.Mr IM Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

(1)

Are any officials currently under suspension at (a) the Department of Labour and/or (b) any of its entities; if so, (i) how many, (ii) for what duration, and in each case (iii) what are their names and (iv) positions in the (aa) Department and/or (bb) respective entity;

(2)

how many of those suspended are (a) still receiving salaries; in each case, (b) what are their salaries, respectively? NW130E

The Minister of Labour replied:

(1) (a)  Yes

(b) Yes

(aa)(i) Sixteen

(aa)(ii)-(iv)

(bb)(ii)-(iv)

Name

Position

Salary per annum

Salary per month

Duration

1. Mr N Phasha

Chief Director: Legal Services

R988 152

R82 346

Oct 2011 to date

2. Mr A Mashapa

Senior Admin clerk: CF

R148 584

R12 382

13 Nov 2014 to date

3.  Ms RS Kwinda

Senior Admin clerk: CF

R245 409

R20 450.75

13 Nov 2014 to date

4. Ms N Cweba

Deputy Director: Beneficiary Services

R532 278

R44 356.50

13 Nov 2014 to date

5. Mr PJ Monnaruri

Deputy Director: Employment Standard

R743 076

R61 923

04 Aug 2014 to date

6. Mr ST Khunyeli

Senior Practitioner: Employment Services

R264 375

R22 031.25

10 Feb 2015 to date

7. Ms H Koen

Senior Admin Officer: Employment Services

R188 985

R15 748.75

10 Feb 2015 to date

8. Mr T Dladla

UIF: Assessor

R148 584

R12 382

12 June 2014 to date

9. Ms SF Masondo

Admin Clerk: Transport

R131 328

R10 944

09 Feb 2015 to date

10. Mr S Pinana

Assistant

Director, CF

R358 734.00

R29 894.50

04 March 2014 to date

 

11. Ms N Mqayigane

Practitioner, CF

R200 577.00

R16 714.75

04 March 2014 to date

 

12. Mr B J Mashishi

Senior Registry Clerk, CF

R148 584.00

R12 382

07 February 2014 to date

13. Ms ET Moloi

Inspector, Gauteng

R157701

R13 141.75

26 November 2014 to date

14. Ms G Lelaka

Inspector, Gauteng

R157701

R13 141.75

26 November 2014 to date

15. Mr D Monareng

Inspector, Gauteng

R155370

R12 947.50

26 November 2014 to date

16. Mr Z Mayaba

Supply Chain Manager (CCMA)

R82 227.25

R6 852.27

01 August 2014 to date

(bb) Four

(2) (a) All officials are still receiving salaries.

(b) Refer to answer provided in (aa)(ii)-(iv) and (bb)(ii)-(iv)

Statement issued by Ian Ollis, DA Shadow Minister of Labour, March 4 2015

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