Question NW2129 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
07 December 2021 - NW2129
Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Whether, with reference to the decision his department took in terms of paragraph 4.7 of Resolution 1/2016 of the Departmental Bargaining Chamber, Dr LA Schreiber has been informed that in some cases, former officials have not yet received their payments, while in other cases the calculations used for the pay-outs of former officials were incorrect; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what is the reason that (i) some former officials were not paid and (ii) other officials were paid incorrect amounts and (b) on what date will the outstanding payments to former officials be made; (2) whether his department will pay interest to former officials who did not receive their payments by the deadline of March 2020, which was before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether his department has different regulations and/or policy positions for serving officials who have already received their payments and for former officials who have not received their payments yet; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1.It should be noted that not all former officials have received their payment. This is due to the system utilised to process calculations providing incorrect outcomes.
(1)(a)(i) Some former officials have not been paid due to the department having to suspend the process and subject all payments to an audit due to discrepancies in percentages used to calculate payments.
(1)(a)(ii) Rectification is underway with regard to all officials that were paid incorrect amounts.
(1)(b) The Department anticipates finalising this process during the 2022/23 financial year due to the magnitude of transactions to be audited. It must be noted that out of 6 306 transactions, 3 567 (57%) have been concluded.
2. The Department will not be paying interest. DCS was compelled to undertake the verification process to avoid overpayments to ex – officials as it would be difficult if not impossible to recover such amounts.
3. No, the Department does not have different regulations and/or policy positions for serving and former officials. The Department opted to initially pay serving officials as they are on the payroll system of Government (PERSAL) and as such processing such emoluments was less onerous administratively, however after commencement of the process the errors in calculations were discovered and a comprehensive audit was commissioned to rectify / prevent any errors. As such former officials’ payments are pending finalisation of the audits.
END