Johannesburg - The government must quickly fill vacancies in departments to enhance service delivery, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said on Wednesday.
"There may be critical posts that are not filled and critical posts impact negatively on service delivery," the PSC's Gauteng commissioner Michael Seloane said in Boksburg on the East Rand.
"In the 2013/14 financial year, 50% of the departments had more than a 20% vacancy rate which is far beyond the acceptable minimum of 10% or below."
Gauteng government departments with vacancies included health, with 8 337 vacant posts, and education with 6 959.
He appealed to senior managers to appoint heads of department.
There were no permanent heads in any Gauteng government departments, except for economic development, human settlements, and co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
"The Gauteng province should fill positions of heads of department timeously to ensure stability at the top level of management. When there is instability at the top, it affects performance," he said.
PSC national commissioner Richard Sizani said departments should fill vacancies within four months of advertising them.
"Unfortunately this has not been the case with many departments. Delays in filling of posts have had negative effects in the functioning of departments," he said.