NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1498 (WRITTEN REPLY) 14 OCTOBER 2009
1498. Mr S.J. Masango (DA) to ask the Minister of Public Works:
1) Whether his 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 his 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 his 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
this department; if so, (a) how many and (b) what is their (i) job
level and (ii) occupational category?
REPLY
(1) No,
(2) Yes, It will be incorporated into the draft departmental Policy on
Recruitment and Selection and in line with the recommendations of the
Public Service Commission on the management of job applicants with criminal
records in the Public Service.
(3) Yes. Since 2007 all DPW applicants have been screened and the
process is still continues for all short-listed candidates. NIA
guides the Department in terms of providing advice on applicants with
criminal records, nature of criminal offence, sentence and whether
such criminal offence will have a bearing on the security competency
of such applicant.
(4) Yes,
(a) 2 Employees
(b) (i) Salary Level 14 and 15
(ii) Regional Manager and the Chief Operating Officer.