The Eastern Cape provincial government has more than 30000 public servants who are being paid monthly while sitting at home on prolonged sick leave.
Some of them have been away from work for more than six years.
As a result, premier Phumulo Masualle yesterday instructed all provincial MECs to submit reports to him on the matter by March 15.
Masualle wants the MECs to outline how these cases are being managed in their respective departments.
According to provincial spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, Masualle also revealed to the executive committee (Exco) meeting yesterday that he would establish a task team to investigate “irregular and suspiciously fraudulent” sick leave in the provincial government system.
Kupelo said this was because of the suspicion that some employees were running private businesses while still on the government payroll and under the pretence that they were ill.
Kupelo said the provincial cabinet was shocked at the revelations.
A human resources report tabled in yesterday’s Exco meeting showed that 32000 public servants were on extended sick leave of between 96 days and six years.
“According to human resources policy and practices, employees who are sickly and not fit to work for prolonged periods should be granted medical boarding or resign so that space is opened for new, young, healthy employees,” Kupelo said.
He added: “Exco has further noted that funds being paid to employees who have not been at work for too long could have been used to employ a number of newly qualified young unemployed graduates who cannot find jobs.”
Kupelo said it had been established that some of those purporting to be sickly and incapacitated were running private businesses.
“The office of the premier has since established a team of officials and technocrats to assist the department of education in fast-tracking the appointment of 1600 teachers across the province.
“That team will also assist in investigating and managing irregular and suspiciously fraudulent sick leave in the system,” Kupelo said.
The spokesman also revealed
that cabinet had yesterday discussed plans for absorbing a number of further education and training students and newly qualified students for learnership and internship opportunities in order to provide them with skills while at the same time assisting in building the provincial economy. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho’s 30 000 sick servants
Some of them have been away from work for more than six years.
As a result, premier Phumulo Masualle yesterday instructed all provincial MECs to submit reports to him on the matter by March 15.
Masualle wants the MECs to outline how these cases are being managed in their respective departments.
According to provincial spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, Masualle also revealed to the executive committee (Exco) meeting yesterday that he would establish a task team to investigate “irregular and suspiciously fraudulent” sick leave in the provincial government system.
Kupelo said this was because of the suspicion that some employees were running private businesses while still on the government payroll and under the pretence that they were ill.
Kupelo said the provincial cabinet was shocked at the revelations.
A human resources report tabled in yesterday’s Exco meeting showed that 32000 public servants were on extended sick leave of between 96 days and six years.
“According to human resources policy and practices, employees who are sickly and not fit to work for prolonged periods should be granted medical boarding or resign so that space is opened for new, young, healthy employees,” Kupelo said.
He added: “Exco has further noted that funds being paid to employees who have not been at work for too long could have been used to employ a number of newly qualified young unemployed graduates who cannot find jobs.”
Kupelo said it had been established that some of those purporting to be sickly and incapacitated were running private businesses.
“The office of the premier has since established a team of officials and technocrats to assist the department of education in fast-tracking the appointment of 1600 teachers across the province.
“That team will also assist in investigating and managing irregular and suspiciously fraudulent sick leave in the system,” Kupelo said.
The spokesman also revealed
that cabinet had yesterday discussed plans for absorbing a number of further education and training students and newly qualified students for learnership and internship opportunities in order to provide them with skills while at the same time assisting in building the provincial economy. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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