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Cape Town - Six high ranking employees have been sitting at home on full pay at a cost of almost R2m over the last three years, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters revealed.
She was responding in a written reply to questions by Democratic Alliance MP in the National Assembly Christian Hunsinger.
He wanted to know, among other things: how many persons were suspended with full pay in the transport department for the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years, what amount was paid to each of the specified persons and what were the reasons for the suspensions.
The minister indicated:
- In 2012-13 no staff was suspended on full pay,
- In 2013-14 one was suspended at a cost of R983 851.49,
- While five employees were out of work in 2014-15 to the value of R1 015 228.91.
The staff involved were three deputy directors generals, one director, one deputy director and one assistant director. The longest suspension lasted for 10 months and the shortest for three months and 15 days.
The reasons given for these suspensions were that the officials committed serious allegations of misconduct that warranted precautionary suspension.
"Precautionary suspension is always with full pay in terms of Chapter 7, clause 2(b) of the Senior Management Service Handbook and clause 7.2 of the Disciplinary Code and Procedure (Resolution 1 of 2003)," noted Peters.
She cited the complexity of the investigations as a cause of delay in resolving the suspensions soonest.
Peters also outlined the suspensions with full pay of employees of each entity reporting to her.
These excluded the Passenger Rail Agency of SA, but included the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Air Traffic and Navigation Services, South African Maritime Safety Authority, Ports Regulator of South Africa, Railway Safety Regulator, Cross-Border Road Transport Agency, Road Traffic Management Corporation, Road Traffic Infringement Agency, South African National Roads Agency Limited.
See below the data provided for the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and Road Accident Fund.
Acsa placed 62 employees under suspension with full pay pending investigation and possible disciplinary action during the financial years under review.
In 2012/13, nine employees were placed under suspension with full pay for the average period of approximately three months.
"The total value of the salaries paid to the nine employees during the period under review for suspension with full pay amounted to R286 889.90."
During the 2013/14 financial year, 19 employees were placed on suspension with full pay.
"The total amount of salaries paid to the nineteen employees during the period of suspension under review amounted to R880 462.11."
In 2014/15, 34 employees were placed under suspension with full pay.
"The total amount of salaries paid to the 34 employees during the period under review of suspension with full pay amounted to R2 298 887.60"
Peters pointed out that the reasons for suspensions to facilitate investigation and conclusion of matters during the period under review were many and varied.
These included embezzlement of funds, forging of sick note, illegal micro lending, non-disclosure of criminal record, sleeping on duty and theft.
Meanwhile, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), which employs over 2 500 people, suspended with full pay 39 employees between the 2012-15 financial years at a total of R15.351m.
"The reasons for the suspensions, which relate to anything from misconduct to fraud, are to manage the risk of the employee to interfering with witnesses and/or evidence; where the continued presence of the employee presents a threat to life or property; or where the employee’s presence will have a disruptive effect on other employees."
The CCMA and Labour Court generally consider suspension without pay an unfair labour practice, therefore the RAF Disciplinary Policy provides for the suspension of an employee on full pay.
Delays in resolving the matters may be experienced due to any one or more reasons, including ongoing investigations that must be completed, the employee getting sick, CCMA referrals for unfair labour practices, and requests for legal representation and determination, which if granted, impacts on the time taken to conclude hearings.
"In order to resolve future matters the RAF is amending its disciplinary policy to curb the maximum period for which an employee may be suspended on full pay and requiring the employee be charged no later than one month after the suspension."
