Disturbing trend of absenteeism among state run companies
State Prasa (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) says it is considering contracting external resources to assist with its disciplinary issue which has seen 2,575 employees suspended on full pay over the last three years.
In a Parliamentary reply by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to questions posted by DA Shadow Minister of Transport, Manny De Freitas, it was revealed that the state owned entity has paid as much as R37 million in salaries to suspended employees.
Dipuo Peters said that the cases largely relate to various misconduct cases that require intense investigations.
Earlier this week, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba effectively blamed the country’s poor tourism numbers on a culture of absenteeism at OR Tambo.
The minister said lack of sufficient staff was cause for concern. He said that the department was working on getting an experienced manager to take charge of OR Tambo Airport as absenteeism was representing a considerable challenge.
The minister noted as many as “32 absentees” during one particular visit. “That’s a large number,” he said.
He said following those visits, the number of absentees had decreased.
“Which showed us we were not dealing with sickness here, but ill-discipline and poor management.”
Peters highlighted a shortage of investigating staff, interference by Trade Unions and availability of competent presiding officials within the business, as a reason for a delay in dealing with suspended staff.
Peters said: “workshops are ongoing with Trade Unions to embrace the culture of discipline. With regards to investigations, engagements are ongoing since most of the complex investigations arise out of whistle-blowing.”
The parliamentary reply reveled that the number of employees suspended had almost doubled between March 2014, and March 2015.
Prasa’s disciplinary woes appear to have worsened since early 2015. Last week it was revealed that the company has had to function without a chief financial officer for more than seven months.
Minister Peters told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) that she has never seen or met Prasa’s CFO since she was appointed to the position in June 2014.
Peters attended a Scopa hearing on Prasa’s annual report for the 2014/15 financial year and suggested that MPs ask Prasa’s acting CEO for details about the financial head’s whereabouts.
Nathi Khena, who has been acting CEO since former CEO Lucky Montana’s dismissal in June last year, said he has also not seen the financial head since he took over last year.
“The CFO apparently has a medical condition and it impacts her performance,” Khena said. “She hasn’t been at work for quite a long time. She came back two to three weeks ago, after her request for medical boarding had been declined.”
In July last year, chief engineer at Prasa, Daniel Mtimkulu, resigned from the company amid allegations that he falsified his qualifications.
Mtimkulu headed the engineering team that designed new Afro 4000 locomotives delivered to South Africa in January, at a cost of R600 million. The locomotives were found to be too tall for the local rail lines.
More on Prasa
Suspended Prasa workers paid R37 million to stay at home
Prasa finance chief ‘hasn’t been at work for quite a long time’
Zuma’s friends score R80 million from Prasa dealings: report
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