Tzaneen jobs are not filled

THE Greater Tzaneen Municipality has a 54% job vacancy rate.

A reviewed organogram in the 2013/2014 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the municipality shows that of the 1418 approved positions, 651 were filled with 767 vacancies still open.

The engineering services department, which provides infrastructure development and maintenance of roads and sewage system is the most understaffed with 437 vacancies.

Only 156 of the 597 vacancies have been filled.

The department of community services which provides essential services such as waste management, environmental health, law enforcement, licensing, library services, sports facilities, cemetery and parks maintenance has 176 unfilled positions. The electrical engineering department, which is responsible for operational and maintenance of electricity infrastructure in town and the farms has 77 vacancies.

Other positions which need to be filled are, 24 in the office of the chief financial officer, 22 in the corporate services department, 14 in the municipal manager’s office, 11 in the department of planning and economic development and six in the office of the mayor. It is indicated in the IDP that following comprehensive organisational design investigations conducted by external services providers a new department for the office of the mayor has been established to enhance coordination of political components. It’s further shows that service delivery departments have been expanded to correlate with the strategic priorities of the municipality and that the revised IDP is aligned with the organogram.

Municipal manager, Masiye Mankabidi confirmed that the municipality has a high vacancy rate and said budgetary constraints delay the filling of positions in the institution.

“Depending on the availability of personnel budget and cash flow considerations, essential and critical vacancies are being filled as and when the need arise,” said Mankabidi.