The National Treasury has availed only R20.5 billion to adjust salaries for the cost of living of public servants in the 2022/23 fiscal year. But it has a bigger problem as it is trying to contain the public wage bill when more teachers, nurses and doctors are needed in the country.
According to a presentation by the director-general of the Department of Public Service and Administration, Yoliswa Makhasi, 12.7% of posts in the public sector are vacant, mostly critical roles.
The health and education sectors account for 68% of all vacant posts in the public service. Some 39 367 posts in the healthcare sector are vacant, as are over 73 000 in the public education sector.
