05 Apr 2022

Parliament has heard that there are 296 vacancies in departments under the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, including the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) with a value totalling P67 319 412. Responding to a parliamentary question on Monday, Minister Kabo Morwaeng indicated that out of the 296 vacancies, 28 were at Btv, RB1 and RB 2. Mr Morwaeng said the Department of Information Services had 26 vacancies while other departments had a total of 173, out of which 19 were at Government Printing and Publishing Services and 154 at the Office of the President, including district administration. He added that other independent departments including DPSM had 69 vacant posts.

“The ministry continues to fill vacant positions following the set recruitment procedures. All the management posts that were vacant at that time have been filled. However some officers retire and resign from the public service and this also contributes to the vacancy level,” Minister Morwaeng said. He indicated that efforts had been made to fill the posts through promotions boards, interviews and assessment centre, adding, ‘however, as people keep on being promoted, some passing on, retiring and being transferred, posts will keep on becoming vacant’. The minister also indicated that not all vacant positions were at entry level.

He said to create vacancies at entry level required internal promotions, which then prolonged the process. On what the money budgeted for the vacant posts was used for, Minister Morwaeng said the money was used in line with the Public Finance Management Act to cover related personnel emoluments costs such as scarce skill allowances, acting allowances, leave encashment and overtime as and when the need arises. Further, he said as per the Act, any unused balances from the Recurrent Budget was returned to Government Consolidated Fund.

Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi had asked the minister to update Parliament on the total vacancies at Btv, RB1 and RB2, Department of Information Services, at all 57 constituencies and other departments under the ministry. Mr Ramogapi also wanted to know action that was taken after the same question was asked two years ago in terms of filling the posts and why it had taken long to fill them while there were many unemployed graduates. The minister was also to state how much was budgeted for the vacant posts and what the money was used for.ENDS