Public Service Commission
By Neo Mofokeng
Key Highlights from the Report
The Public Service Commission (PSC) announced on Tuesday that the total capped leave liability in the public sector reached R16.24 billion as of December 2023. This liability encompasses 189,039 employees, accounting for approximately 14% of the public service workforce. According to PSC Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya, this figure is expected to rise due to cost-of-living adjustments and promotions to higher positions.
Affected Sectors
The education and health sectors bear the brunt of this liability, housing the majority of employees with capped leave. Gxoyiya emphasized that many of these employees are nearing retirement, posing a risk of skills shortages in these vital sectors unless proactive measures are implemented.
Study Leave Statistics (2020–2023)
- National Level: Between 17,733 and 20,651 employees utilized study leave.
- Provincial Level: Between 21,004 and 23,265 employees took study leave.
- Sector Breakdown: In certain provinces, over 70% of these employees hailed from the health and education departments.
- Duration: Study leave averaged between 5 and 8 days, with national departments recording the highest average at 8.5 days, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (7.4 days) and Eastern Cape (6.5 days).
- Policy Context: Before the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council Resolution 2 of 2024, special leave policies varied widely, resulting in inconsistent application across the public service.
Sick Leave Trends
A marked increase in sick leave usage was observed in 2022, attributed to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the resumption of full-time workplace operations.
Grievance Handling
As of March 31, 2025, the PSC managed 439 grievances, including 85 cases carried over from the prior year. Here’s a breakdown: - Concluded Cases: 338 (77%)
• Substantiated: 18 (5%)
• Unsubstantiated: 84 (25%)
• Partially Substantiated: 9 (3%)
• Internally Resolved: 43 (13%)
• Closed: 184 (54%) (e.g., cases pending before bargaining councils, CCMA, or courts) - Pending Cases: 101 (23%)
Grievance Categories - Salary Levels 2–12: 403 cases, with 309 concluded (91% within 150 working days).
- Senior Management Service (SMS): 36 cases, with 29 concluded (83% within 150 working days).
The PSC voiced concerns over delays in grievance resolution by some departments, noting non-compliance with timeframes set by Resolution 14 of 2002 (for levels 2–12) and Chapter 10 of the SMS Handbook. The Commission plans to investigate whether these delays stem from unrealistic timelines, insufficient human resource capacity, or other factors.
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