Questions are being raised over an ‘exceptionally high incidence of sick leave’ among Tshwane metro workers recently.

The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has pointed to the apparent impact of sick leave on service delivery backlogs, including unresolved power outages, persistent water leaks and worsening road conditions.

However, the Tshwane metro has assured residents that it has plans in place to manage such cases.

FF+ councillor Roché Grebe said the extent of absenteeism is severely undermining the metro’s ability to function effectively.

Grebe said a recent report by the metro’s Human Capital Management Group showed workers are crippling service delivery through excessive absenteeism.

He said the report revealed that, the metro’s 18 266 permanent employees recorded 43 033 days of sick leave between April and June 2025 alone, equivalent to 118 calendar years of lost work in just three months.

For the full 2024/25 financial year, sick leave totalled 142 490 days, translating to about 390 calendar days of work lost.

Grebe said under normal conditions, the metro’s workforce is expected to deliver around 4.7 million active workdays annually.

“However, more than 30 000 workweeks were lost over the past year, a situation that collapses productivity,” he said.

“This is not a minor problem. No functional municipality can survive with such a low level of discipline and capacity,” Grebe added.

He warned that the high rate of absenteeism is contributing to deteriorating service delivery, including unresolved power outages, persistent water leaks and worsening road conditions.

Grebe called for urgent intervention, including a full investigation into sick leave patterns, particularly repeated absences on Mondays and Fridays, stricter verification of medical certificates, and disciplinary action against employees found to be abusing the system.

He also urged the metro to identify underperforming staff and take remedial action where necessary, including possible dismissals.

“The city should also introduce wellness programmes to support employees with legitimate health concerns.”

He said the Tshwane deserves a workforce that takes its responsibility seriously and is committed to serving the community.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo acknowledged the reported figures and their potential impact but maintained that systems are in place to manage absenteeism and ensure continuity of services.

“However, the city has means to manage service delivery gaps that might arise as a result of of sick leave.”

Mashigo said sick leave patterns, including repeated absences, are monitored and managed through an absenteeism standard operating procedure.

“To maintain accountability, the city enforces strict controls, including the verification of medical certificates and implementation of incapacity management processes where required, disciplinary action is taken in cases of abuse,” he said.

Mashigo said the city uses its performance management system to address underperforming employees, with remedial measures implemented where necessary.

He further highlighted that Tshwane has introduced a range of wellness interventions through its Human Capital Management and Occupational Health units.

“These include an Employee Wellness Programme offering confidential counselling, as well as medical assessments, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and referrals to healthcare professionals.”

Mashigo added that the city appoints acting personnel in cases where employees are on extended sick leave.

“The city remains committed to balancing employee wellness with accountability, while ensuring that service delivery standards are maintained,” he said.

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