Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Dr Mimmy Gondwe MP
While the average South African tax payer has been battling to make ends meet and to put food on the table, the President has allowed 5 suspended Director Generals (DGs) to languish at home at a massive cost of R10,5 million to the South African tax payer.
This astonishing revelation was made in a written reply, by the Presidency, to a DA Parliamentary question on the total number of DGs that were on suspension with full pay in the 2020/21; 2021/22; and 2022/23 financial years. The reply identifies a total of 5 DGs as having been on suspension with full pay, for the financial years under review, including the DGs for Public Enterprises and International Relations.
Further according to the reply, the DG who has been on suspension for the longest period of time, was the DG for Public Works and Infrastructure who was on suspension for 2 whole years, from July 2020 to July 2022.
The reply from the Presidency also reveals that the DG for Defence and Military Veterans was suspended in March 2023 and continues, to this day, to remain on suspension with full pay.
Also of importance the reply states that all 5 DGs, identified, were placed on suspension for allegations relating to misconduct.
Given that the career incidents of DGs are handled by the President in terms of section 12 of the Public Service Act, the DA calls on President Ramaphosa to finalise the ongoing disciplinary case of the DG for Defence and Military Veterans for the sake of the already burdened taxpayer. It is simply not fair that time and again, the South African taxpayer is expected to shoulder the financial burden of President Ramaphosa’s failing and ailing public administration.