NMB department can't fill vacancies for nearly 10 years ...

Warning:

This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.

Read the article

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's Infrastructure and Engineering Directorate has been “struggling over the past almost 10 years to successfully recruit the staff needed to deliver services,” according to a report submitted to the Human Resources and Corporate Administration Committee.

The report says that as a result of this situation the directorate has had to rely on external assistance from contractual staff and consultants to carry out its functions.

The report points out that the direc-torate currently has 724 vacancies out of a total of 2 212 positions.

Of the total number of vacancies, 265 are in water and sanitation; 140 in roads, stormwater and transportation; 94 in design and implementation and 225 in support services.

Among the challenges facing the directorate that are listed in the report is the fact that funding made available to fill the vacancies is used by the municipality for other purposes such as the Cape Joint Pension Fund back pay contributions.

In addition, the vacancy budgets are not cash-backed; funds that were paid to people who have left the municipality are not carried through to the next fi-nancial year so that the vacancy can be filled.

In addition, the length of the recruitment process is such that it results in some candidates accepting other positions and the lack of available suitable and experienced applicants with posi-tions being re-advertised on occasions without success.

The report states that in the last finan-cial year the Provision for Vacancies line item had been reduced in the Adjustments Budget from R13.7 million to R9.4 million, adding that this would “once again have a negative impact on the delivery of services”.

The report recommends that Council refrains from using vacancy funding for other purposes.

Further, it recommends that Council funds the filling of vacancies “at a level that will reduce dependence on external service providers”.

(Source: Metrominute - to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)