Question NW213 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs

Reply:

Due to the cost containment measures and after reaching a ceiling for compensation of employees, the Department of Environment embarked on a process to reprioritise positions and realignment of the organisational structure to enhance efficiency and eliminate duplication. The process has subsequently been concluded. The concurrence letter on realignment of the structure was issued by MPSA on 10 May 2019.

The department has commenced with the process of filling the vacancies within a year in line with the Public Service Regulations, 2016 and will continue to reduce the vacancy rate to a target of 8% by the end of the current financial year in line with the Annual Performance Plan.

(a) Department of Environment

1. 211 vacancies
2. None. There are no provincial departments reporting to me.

Branch: Fisheries

1. 157 vacancies
2. The Branch: Fisheries Management does not have provincial branches.

Branch: Forestry

1. 13 vacant positions as of 01 July 2019.
2. The Forestry Branch in the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has vacant positions in the following Provinces:

Province	Number of vacancies
Forestry Management: Eastern Cape	292
Forestry Management: KwaZulu-Natal	61
Forestry Management: Mpumalanga and Limpopo	117
Forestry Management: Other Regions (Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape, North West & Western Cape)	19
Woodlands and Indigenous Forest Management (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo and Mpumalanga)	84
Total in Provinces	573

(b) Department of Environment

The department fills in vacancies on a continuous basis in line with the Public Service Regulations, 2016.

 

Branch: Fisheries & Forestry

The National Macro Organisation of Government process is still underway, which will guide whether all these posts are required and whether there is budget to fill them.

 

 

Regards

MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES