DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 1611
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09 October 2009
1611. Dr S M van Dyk (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:
(1)Whether her department developed and adopted a policy providing
guidelines for the appointment of persons with a criminal record; if so,
(a) when was the policy (i) developed and (ii) adopted and (b) where can a
copy of the policy be obtained; if not,
(2) whether her department has any plans in place to develop and adopt such
a policy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3)whether her department does any pre-employment screening of potential
employees for criminal records; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(4)whether any employees with criminal records are currently employed by
her department; if so, (a) how many and (b) what is their (i) job level and
(ii) occupational category? NW2017E
REPLY:
(1)(a) There is currently no Departmental policy that deals specifically
with the appointment of persons with criminal records. However, the
Department does have a Recruitment policy in place and is also guided by
the provisions in the in the Public Service Act and the Public Service
Regulations when making appointments. In addition, the National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) conducts reference and criminal checks for all
new employeesâ prior appointment.
(2) Yes, the Department intends to update its existing Recruitment policy
to include a chapter that addresses appointment of persons with a criminal
record.
(3) Yes, the Department does screen potential employees for criminal
records by utilising the services of NIA.
(4)(a)(b)(iii) Yes, an employee with a minor criminal record is currently
employed in the Department as a Director. Details of the criminal record
were brought to the attention of the Department via the NIA vetting
process.