15 Feb 2017

There are 958 vacant positions in 16 districts and town councils, against a total establishment of 18, 628, Parliament was informed.
The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said this represents a vacancy rate of 5.2 per cent against the national target of two per cent.
Ms Tshireletso was responding to question in Parliament on Tuesday, from the Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile.
She stated that the vacancies for City of Francistown are 58, Gaborone 126, Jwaneng 13, Lobatse 52, Selibe-Phikwe 58, Sowa 8 and Central has 236.
For Chobe there are 53 vacancies, Ghanzi 41, Kgalagadi 78, Kgatleng District Council 59, Kweneng 48, North East 17, North West 21, Southern District 64 and South East 26.
The assistant minister said efforts to fill the vacancies were at advanced stages of recruitment, with 192 advertised, 71 at short listing stage, 67 to be interviewed for, 110 offered, 171 to offer, 65 graduates sought while others are earmarked for promotion, rationalisation and outsourcing.
Ms Tshireletso however said the major challenges in filling vacancies included acute supply of skilled candidates in the market for positions such as principal state councils, physical planners, engineers, controller of fire services and assistant managers (procurement).
In addition, she said, some candidates are reluctant or decline to take up offers in places like Kgalagadi, Ghanzi or Chobe which causes the delay to fill the posts.
Mr Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of vacant posts in 16 districts and town councils and also provide a breakdown for each council and to state the major challenges for not filling these posts. ENDS