The Department's total spending on consultants' averages 0.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent of total spending on compensation of employees in 2012/13 and over the medium term, respectively. Spending on consultants was expected to increase to R33.5 million in 2015/16, mainly for conducting feasibility studies for infrastructure projects, ICT services and also for the provision of training services. The Department employed an additional 229 people in 2011/12, the majority of whom were in salary levels 1 to 12, with a minimal increase in expenditure on compensation of employees. In 2013/14, the Department has planned to employ an additional 225 people to strengthen its capacity.