Heavy stick wielded on erring civil servants

MORE than 280 civil servants working across 14 provincial government departments, including the legislature, have been charged and disciplined in 2014-15 financial year.

The 282 officials were subjected to disciplinary proceedings in the year under review after they had been charged with various acts of misconduct including theft, fraud, negligence, assault, insubordination, corporal punishment and misuse of state resources.

Other charges related to absenteeism, use of abusive language, irregular expenditure, disregarding safety rules, misusing positions to promote political parties, poor performance, working drunk, intimidating colleagues, dishonesty and falsification of documents.

The health department dealt with most disciplinary cases in the year under review with 93 cases followed closely by roads and public works with 70 and the education department with 29.

The department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) and safety and liaison recorded the least number of cases – a single one in each.

The information was contained in the departments audited annual reports, which will now be officially adopted by the Bhisho Legislature’s house sitting this afternoon.

According to the reports, the department of social development dealt with 23 cases, economic development, environmental affairs and tourism with 15 cases and human settlements 13.

The department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) had 10 cases to deal with, rural development nine, transport eight, provincial treasury five, office of the premier three and the legislature two cases.

The health department annual report reveals that 25 officials were suspended as a result, 16 without pay.

A total of 55 officials in the department received written warnings, 33 of which were final. Nine officials were dismissed from duty, seven received verbal warnings and two were subjected to correctional counseling.

The roads and public works department’s annual report did not list sanctions meted against offending officials, while in education six officials were relieved of their duties, 10 suspended without pay, five received final written warnings, three were fined and one demoted.

The single official charged for insubordination at safety and liaison department was suspended for a period of 171 days, costing the department more than R321 600 in the period.

In the legislature, two officials were hauled before a disciplinary hearing for gross negligence and dishonesty.

At Premier Phumulo Masualle’s office, three officials were charged for misuse of state vehicles, falsification of records and unauthorised donation of state assets. They all received final written warnings.

In rural development, three were suspended without pay, another three slapped with final written warnings, two dismissed and one sent for corrective counselling.

The transport department sent two of its officials packing, two for counseling, two were suspended without pay while two were slapped with written warnings.

In DSRAC two employees were dismissed and four suspended without pay.

In the department of human settlement’s, one official was dismissed, two suspended without pay, and seven slapped with written warnings.

The single Cogta official charged for fraud was given two months leave without pay.

In social development, four officials were dismissed, two suspended without pay, nine received written warnings and eight officials had their cases withdrawn.