Shocking R136m spent in one year on 69 suspended government officials – DA

It costs taxpayers a whopping R136.5 million to pay the salaries of 69 employees of national and provincial departments who have been placed on suspension for more than six months‚ pending disciplinary action.

This is according to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) shadow minister of public service and administration, Desiree van der Walt, who revealed on Wednesday the suspensions are from April 1, 2016.

A parliamentary question submitted by the DA revealed on Wednesday that of R136.5 million total cost on the precautionary suspensions, the cost is made up of R24 million in national departments and R112.5 million in provincial departments.

And of the 69 employees currently on suspension‚ 24 are from provincial departments and 45 are from national departments.

The DA MP said in a statement “alarmingly” four of the provincial employees have been suspended for more than a year and five for more than two years.

“It is astounding that so much money has been paid in salaries because the respective departments have failed to efficiently conclude disciplinary action.

“This money should be spent on skills development or internship programmes within these departments for the millions of young people who are currently without work,” Van der Walt charged.

She also said she would ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration Ngoako Ramathlodi further questions to find out why it has taken government so long to conclude disciplinary action against the officials.

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