Lengthy Suspensions Of 4 Government Employees Cost Taxpayers R5 Million

Taxpayers have coughed up over R5 million on just four Gauteng provincial government employees who were on lengthy suspensions.

Shyla Peters, the Gauteng member of executive council MEC for Environment, made the revelation in a provincial legislature reply recently.

At the time of Peters reply, one employee had been on suspension for 1,232 from 15 April 2021 to 31 August 2024.

Two others sat at home for 797 days from 26 July 2022 until 30 September 2024, while the fourth was away for 357 days between 25 July 2023 and 15 July 2024.

Reasons for suspensions included disruptive and serious misconduct as well as stealing. All four employees were found guilty after disciplinary processes but launched appeals.

According to public service regulations , employees remain on full pay while on suspension, which shall be within a month or 60 days, depending on the complexity of the matter and the length on the investigation.

However, this guideline is often flouted for various reasons, including hiring of external legal representation during disciplinary processes and appeals.

Peters provided a breakdown of the cost the Department incurred while the employees were suspended:

Democratic Alliance DA Gauteng member of provincial legislature, Jade Miller, criticised the delays in finalising the disciplinary cases.

The DA is appalled by delaying tactics by officials while Premier Panyaza Lesufi's government has allowed it to happen, Miller said.