Question NW3191 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
26 October 2023 - NW3191
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
With reference to her reply to question 2173 on 26 June 2023, what are the reasons that since 2019 the total number of budgeted veterinary posts was reduced from 324 to 287; (2) whether she is considering requesting the Minister of Home Affairs to reconsider the decision to remove veterinary doctors from the critical scarce skills list due to the inability to fill vacant positions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The total of veterinary posts budgeted for increased from 324 to 326 for the period in question. KwaZulu-Natal increased the posts by two during the period. The table below provides a corrected version. The vacancy rate is also adjusted accordingly to 40%.
Table1: Approved and vacant posts for veterinary doctors
|
Year |
STATUS |
NATIONAL |
GP |
NW |
LIMPOPO |
MP |
KZN |
FS |
EC |
WC |
NC |
TOTAL |
|
2019 |
APPROVED |
38 |
36 |
39 |
39 |
36 |
27 |
15 |
48 |
30 |
16 |
324 |
|
VACANT |
13 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
17 |
17 |
3 |
25 |
4 |
10 |
113 |
|
|
RATE |
34% |
11.1% |
26% |
26% |
47.22% |
62.96% |
20% |
48% |
13% |
37.5% |
35% |
|
|
2020 |
APPROVED |
38 |
36 |
39 |
39 |
36 |
27 |
15 |
48 |
30 |
16 |
324 |
|
VACANT |
13 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
5 |
26 |
5 |
10 |
114 |
|
|
RATE |
34% |
11.1% |
26% |
26% |
41.67% |
59.25% |
33% |
46% |
16% |
37.5% |
35% |
|
|
2021 |
APPROVED |
38 |
36 |
39 |
39 |
36 |
27 |
15 |
48 |
30 |
16 |
324 |
|
VACANT |
14 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
16 |
16 |
6 |
28 |
5 |
10 |
103 |
|
|
RATE |
37% |
11.1% |
26% |
26% |
44.44% |
59,25% |
40% |
42% |
16% |
37.5% |
32% |
|
|
2022 |
APPROVED |
38 |
36 |
39 |
39 |
36 |
29 |
15 |
48 |
30 |
16 |
326 |
2. The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has already requested the Minister of Home Affairs to reconsider placing veterinary doctors back on the critical skills list. The Minister of Home Affairs published a notice on the 9th of October 2023 in which veterinary doctors are back on the critical list. A copy of the publication is attached as Annexure A.