The Public Service Commission has raised concerns over what it describes as the misuse of public funds, revealing that government spends an estimated R800 million each year on suspended public servants.
According to the Commission, there are currently 674 officials on suspension across national and provincial departments, with more than 500 of them suspended for longer than the legally prescribed 60-day period.
Commission Chairperson Somadoda Fikeni said the situation points to systemic abuse of disciplinary processes within the public sector.
“When I arrived at the Public Service Commission, I was told there was a person who had been on suspension with full pay for 12 years. Another was placed on special leave for about seven years,” Fikeni said.
He noted that public service regulations stipulate that suspensions should not exceed 60 days unless an extension is formally granted by the chair of a disciplinary committee within a reasonable timeframe.
However, Fikeni said the Commission has observed widespread disregard for these rules, resulting in prolonged suspensions at significant cost to the state.
The Commission has called for stricter enforcement of regulations and improved accountability to prevent further abuse of the system.