28 Jul 2021

There are currently no vacant positions for senior officers at the Serowe Administrative Authority.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele, said there was however one post of senior assistant council secretary (SACS) that was vacant from March 1, 2019 to March 31 this year and substantively filled on April 1.

“Three officers acted for the position after it fell vacant two years ago. The first officer acted for 12 months, the second acted for eight months and the last officer acted for four months. Officers were appointed to act while still preparing to fill the vacant posts permanently as recruitment process for senior positions was a lengthy one.

However, service delivery was not affected as capable officers were appointed on acting capacity to deliver the mandate of the position,” Mr Modukanele said. He indicated that interviews were held on July 6, 2020 following an advert that ran from October 2, 2019 to November 15, 2019 where 42 candidates had applied for the post.

Again, he said, there were other posts that had been acted for besides the E2 post and they included that of principal economist at D3 level which had been acted for since January 2019 because the incumbent was on study leave abroad.

“It must be noted that the economic planning division has only two officers hence one employee has acted continuously to date,” Mr Modukanele said.

Mr Modukanele stated that the post of chief administration officer, also at D3 level, fell vacant on September 1, 2019 and was filled on the same month on September 21.

“An officer acted for the post from September 1 to 26, 2019 and it was advertised from July 7-30, 2019. The appointed candidate assumed duty on September 27.”

Moreover, he indicated that filling of all positions at D2 and below was a function that had been delegated to council secretaries and town clerks.

Serowe South MP, Mr Leepetswe Lesedi had wanted an update on the employment status of senior civil servants at the Serowe Administrative Authority and state how many senior officers had been acting and for how long.

Mr Lesedi also wanted to know when vacant posts would be filled as well as which departments have had the largest number of acting senior officers and which posts had not been filled and when they will be filled.

He also wanted to know how long the SACS position had been vacant and how many individuals had acted for the post in the last five years.

He further wanted to know why the appointing authority did not see the need to appoint senior officers and preferred acting positions and how that had affected service delivery and decision making in the Serowe Administrative Authority. ENDS