Question NW4153 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
14 December 2023 - NW4153
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
What (a) number of employees of her department have faced disciplinary proceedings in the past year, (b) are the details of each specified employee, (c) are the reasons that each specified person was facing disciplinary proceedings, (d) is the period taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings in each case, (e) number of employees were suspended, (f) were the charges that led to each suspension, (g) number of employees were dismissed, (h1) were the reasons for each such dismissal, (h2) number of employees were suspended with full pay and (i) for how long were the specified employees suspended with full pay?
Reply:
a) The number of employees of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation that faced disciplinary proceedings was 34.
b) The details of the employees that faced disciplinary hearings were as follows:
(i) Chief Directors: 4;
- Directors: 7;
- Deputy Directors: 3;
- Assistant Directors:15;
- Senior Administrator: 1; and
- Level 7: 4
c) The reasons for the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:
(i) 25 employees were charged with financial misconduct;
(ii) Six (6) employees were charged with Insolence and disgraceful conduct;
(iii) Two (2) employees were charged with late coming and absence without authorisation; and
(iv) One (1) employee was charged with failure to submit a financial disclosure form.
d) The periods taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:
(i) 27 cases finalised in one to three months;
- One (1) case finalised in four months and sixteen (16) days;
- Two (2) cases finalised in nine to 12 months; and
- Two (2) cases are still pending.
e) The number of employees suspended were 4.
f) The charges that led to the suspensions were:
(i) Two (2) employees were suspended for insolence and threatening behaviour; and
(ii) Two (2) employees were suspended for financial misconduct.
g) The number of employees dismissed was 2.
(h1) The reasons for the dismissal of the employees were:
(i) One (1) employee was dismissed for financial misconduct; and
- One (1) employee was dismissed for absence without authorisation.
(h2) The number of employees suspended with full pay was 4.
(i)The periods of suspension with full pay were:
(i) One (1) official was suspended for six months and 9 days;
- One (1) official was suspended for ten months and 19 days;
- One (1) official was suspended for 10 months and 20 days; and
- One (1) official is still on suspension (since 7 September 2022) pending the hearing outcome.