NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1393
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 18)
Mr M Waters (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
(1) What is the (a) actual and (b) optimal staff complement at the
Directorate: Radiation Control at the (i) head office and (ii)
regional offices for (aa) inspectors, (bb) scientists and (cc) others;
(2) whether there are any vacant posts at any of the offices within the
abovementioned directorate; if so, (a) how long has each post been
vacant and (b) what steps are being taken to fill each vacant post;
(3) whether there is a moratorium or restriction on the filling of any
vacancies; if so, (a) why and (b) how long will this be the case;
(4) (a) when was the last update of the staff complement requirement of
this directorate, (b) what was used to determine the staff complement
strength and (c) how many licences for radioactive sources were issued
at the time?
NW1747E
REPLY:
1) The number of approved posts as per the directorateâs establishment
is used as the optimal staff complement and the currently filled
posts as the actual posts. The numbers are given below with the
establishment given first then the filled posts:
i) Head office:
(aa) inspectors - 2/2 (establishment / filled)
ab) scientists - 11/7
ac) others - 15/12
ii) regional offices:
aa) inspectors - 10/6
ab) scientists â none
ac) others - 5/4
2) There are a number of vacant posts as indicated above by the
establishment posts that are not filled.
(a) - Inspectors: 4 vacant posts (vacant for 4 months to
2,5 years)
- Scientists: 4 vacant posts (vacant for 3 to 5 years)
- Others: 3 vacant posts (vacant for 2 to 3 years)
(b) The vacant posts are in the various stages of being
filled, e.g. requested approval for advertisement, being
advertised, being short listed, awaiting interviews, etc.
(3) Given the need to respect the budget available for personnel, vacant
posts are being prioritised for filling and these posts are included
in this process. This process of prioritisation is in place for the
current financial year
(4) (a) Updates of the staff complement of the directorate have
been done from time to time through specific work study
exercises, the last completed exercise terminated in 2007.
However there is a major further work study underway at present.
(b) Standard human resource and work study procedures were used to
determine the staff complement.
(c) The directorate issues authorities for actions related to
radioactive sources (import / export, possession, use, disposal,
etc.) and not licences for radioactive sources themselves. The
number of active Authorities varies on a daily basis; for
example, a total of 438 new and revised Authorities were issued
over the past 6 months.
END.