It is hard to reverse an appointment when a deployee’s incompetence emerges
18 January 2022 - 16:15
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
As much as cadre deployment is unfair and even illegal, it is difficult to prove. Many of us seasoned public servants know this.
Remember, normal advertising of vacant posts takes place, but the chair and panel members are all comrades, and they simply give their favourites higher scores. The favoured comrade appears to have outperformed truly competent interviewees.
Occupying the post the deployee’s incompetence emerges, but in the public service an MEC, minister or head of department cannot reverse an appointment without sound reason. It is only the labour court that can do so, but it is rare for the courts to interfere in the internal affairs of employers.
We observed this with the SABC matter during 2021. If the public or non-Cosatu unions complain too loudly the deployee is merely deployed elsewhere.
Johan Smith Via email
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Cadre deployment difficult to prove
It is hard to reverse an appointment when a deployee’s incompetence emerges
As much as cadre deployment is unfair and even illegal, it is difficult to prove. Many of us seasoned public servants know this.
Remember, normal advertising of vacant posts takes place, but the chair and panel members are all comrades, and they simply give their favourites higher scores. The favoured comrade appears to have outperformed truly competent interviewees.
Occupying the post the deployee’s incompetence emerges, but in the public service an MEC, minister or head of department cannot reverse an appointment without sound reason. It is only the labour court that can do so, but it is rare for the courts to interfere in the internal affairs of employers.
We observed this with the SABC matter during 2021. If the public or non-Cosatu unions complain too loudly the deployee is merely deployed elsewhere.
Johan Smith
Via email
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Expel companies complicit in state capture, says BMF
BUSI MAVUSO: SA society needs to stand together again
TONY LEON: As cadre deployment took root civil society failed to see writing on wall
DA plans court case to find out Ramaphosa’s role in cadre deployment
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.