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Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 1714 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mrs M Wenger (DA) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
MS NOSIPHO NGCABA
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 1714 NW2061E
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 23 of 2013
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26 July 2013
Mrs M Wenger (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(a) How many positions are currently vacant in (i) her departments and (ii)
each entity reporting to her and (b) how long has each specified position
been vacant?
.
1714. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:
a) (i) The Department of Environmental Affairs undergone a
substantial organisational review and reorganisation process
during the 2012-2012 and 2012 â 2013 financial years resulting
in an increase of the staff establishment from 1462 posts in the
approved structure as on 1 April 2012 to 1898 posts in April
2013. On 1 August 2013, 443 posts were vacant of which 401 were
only created on 1 April 2013.
(ii) Currently there are 29 vacant positions in The South
African Weather Service (SAWS). SAWS has a staff establishment
of 386
Currently there are 72 vacant positions in the South African
National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). SANBI has a staff
establishment of 667.
Currently there are 7 vacant positions in the Isimangaliso
Wetlands Park. Isimangaliso has a staff establishment of 45.
Currently there are 189 vacant positions in the South African
National Parks (SANParks) of which 150 have been created in the
current financial year. SANParks has a staff establishment of
3887
b) Of the 443 vacant positions in the Department of Environmental
Affairs, 42 (2.2% of the establishment) have been vacant since 01
April 2012; 2 of which have been vacated in January 2013 due to
resignations; and 40 have not been filled in 2012 due to the
finalisation of the structure and Job Evaluation processes. This
should be understood in the context that the Department had to
undertake the restructuring within its available resources, the 40
posts were not filled as they were not prioritised and may have been
declared redundant in favour of new priorities. The remaining 401
vacant posts (21.2% of the establishment) did not exist prior to the
restructuring process and have been vacant since 1 April 2013.
Recruitment processes are well advanced for all prioritised posts.
South African Weather Services (SAWS) Of 29 positions, 13 positions
(45%) have been vacant since May 2012. 16 positions (55%) have been
vacant since April 2013. The positions vacant has been vacant for
varied periods ranging from a 1month to 7 month. The reasons for the
range from insufficient pool of skilled personnel from which to
attract the necessary employees (scarcity of skilled personnel) and
the unavailability or limited resources to finance the positions.
South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Of 667
positions, 52 positions (7.8.%) have been vacant since 01 April 2012
due to natural attrition and 20 positions (2.9%%) were newly created
and have been vacant since 1 April 2013. SANBI is currently in the
process of filling all critical posts that are vacant due to natural
attrition and newly created ones.
iSimangaliso Wetlands Park The 7 positions vacant positions have been
vacant for 15 months. All senior posts are filled. There are two
vacant posts at middle management level. The remaining 5 posts are all
junior posts. These posts were all approved by the Board in March 2013
and were created to improve the effectiveness of the organization.
They have not been filled due to budgetary constraints and cost saving
measures
South African National Parks (SANParks)
Vacant positions as the end of July 2013: 187 which equates to 4,8 %,
37 vacant positions of the above which equates to 0, 95%, these have
been vacant for not more than 2 months, and they will be filled
between September and October 2013. 128 which equates to 3, 3%: these
are new positions which have been created in Kruger National Park, due
to the insourcing of the security personnel. The process of filling
these positions has commenced and it should be finalized by the end of
October 2013. 22 newly approved positions in Kruger National Park
which equates to 0, 6%, the process of filling these positions has
commenced; it should be finalized by the end of October 2013.
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