- Over 400 government employees continue to collect salaries despite being suspended.
- One South African Defence Force member has been on paid suspension for an astonishing five years.
- South Africans are fired up and frustrated that public servants are getting paid for doing absolutely nothing.
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has spent the last decade covering the South African political scene, crime, and social issues with a keen eye for detail and truth.
Hold onto your hats, folks, because this story is about to blow your mind. In the last financial year, a staggering 471 government employees in South Africa were caught getting paid to do absolutely nothing. That’s right, nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada.
This shocking revelation came straight from the horse's mouth—Minister of Public Service and Administration, Mzamo Buthelezi, who confirmed the jaw-dropping figures in response to a parliamentary query. When pressed about the number of public servants lounging around on paid suspension, Buthelezi spilled the tea, revealing not only how many sectors were affected but also which cases had been dragging on for the longest time.
Read also:Kaizer Chiefs Gear Up For Soweto Derby With Exciting New Additions
Five Years on Paid Suspension: The Defence Force Scandal
Let me tell you about one particularly outrageous case. News24 uncovered that an employee from the South African Defence Force has been chilling at home on paid suspension for five long years. Yes, you read that correctly—five years. This isn’t just a blip on the radar; it’s a glaring example of a much larger issue. But it doesn’t stop there. Buthelezi also revealed that four individuals have been on paid suspension for over four years, and another sixteen have been collecting checks for doing nothing for the past two years. Can you believe it?
Which Departments Are Taking the Hit?
So, where are all these lazybones working, or rather, not working? Well, it turns out the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and Human Settlements and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education are two of the biggest offenders. But they’re not alone. The National Prosecuting Authority has also been dealing with a handful of complicated suspensions that have dragged on longer than they should. These cases are so convoluted that they couldn’t even be wrapped up within the required timeframe. What a mess!
South Africans Sound Off on the Latest Figures
Naturally, the public had plenty to say about this absurd situation. Social media lit up like a Christmas tree as South Africans took to platforms to voice their outrage—or lack thereof, in some cases. While some weren’t the least bit surprised, others were genuinely shocked and appalled that so many people are getting paid for doing nothing while millions of South Africans struggle to put food on the table.
Aubrey Vukeya summed it up perfectly: “It’s not something that shocks us. It’s normal in all government departments. Even if it was 10 years, we would not be shocked.”
Sam Mosehle piled on with his thoughts: “That’s the ANC government for you. There’s no accountability, and believe me, there are still a lot of scandals to date. Just wait, you’ll hear.”
Charmaine Collard couldn’t hide her disgust: “Disgusting...and then we have people living in poverty.”
Read also:When Funerals Turn Into A Feast Two South Africans Had Everyone Talking
Ivan van Heerden added a touch of sarcasm: “What a time to be a Comrade! Money for mahala, while children drown in pit toilets. Viva ANC Viva.”
Lazarus Rabothatat was particularly upset: “This is totally abnormal and disgusting. Normal suspension is three months. This must be stopped.”
Kevin K K Naidoo chimed in with his take: “Now that’s ridiculous. Because of an incompetent government, other people are starving.”
Neo Mohaole tried to inject a bit of humor into the conversation: “Most government employees are getting paid for doing nothing anyway. The system is always off and they think that servicing the community is a favour. The ones coming to work are the same as the ones not coming to work.”
Over 1,200 Ghost Workers at PRASA: Another Scandal Uncovered
And if you think that’s bad, wait until you hear this. Briefly News previously broke the story about an investigation into allegations of 1,200 ghost workers at Passenger Rail Agency South Africa (PRASA). Investigators found that 1,200 PRASA employees were collecting salaries despite there being no evidence that they even existed. Yes, you heard that right—ghost workers. It’s like something out of a horror movie.
In response to the scandal, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) stepped in to investigate after PRASA had already taken action against fraud by removing 1,000 non-existent employees from their payroll. But clearly, there’s still more work to be done. The system is broken, and it’s time for someone to step up and fix it. Because as it stands right now, the people of South Africa are footing the bill for a lot of nothing.
