Over 6,000 foreigners are employed as public servants in SA, PSA minister reveals
public servants: Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi has revealed that there are more than 6,000 foreigners currently working in the public service across South Africa. This information was disclosed by Buthelezi in a recent response to a Parliamentary question asked by ActionSA’s Dr Tebogo Letlape.
Letlape had posed a question inquiring about the total number of foreign nationals employed in each department and institution of the public service. In his detailed response, Buthelezi provided data drawn from the government’s payroll and human resources system, known as Persal. According to this information, as of July 31st, there are 6,220 foreign nationals employed across National and provincial government departments, as well as other public service components.
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Buthelezi explained that this figure of 6,220 foreign public servants accounts for approximately 0.5% of the estimated 1.2 million total public servants in South Africa. This employee population encompasses both temporary staff hired for specific durations, as well as those foreign nationals who have acquired permanent residency status in the country.
Breaking down the distribution of these foreign public workers across the provinces, the data shows that Gauteng had the highest number, with 1,705 foreigners employed. Mpumalanga followed with 653, then KwaZulu-Natal with 647, and the Eastern Cape with 579 foreign nationals working in the public sector.
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Further analysis of the Gauteng figures revealed that 826 of the foreign-born employees were working in the education sector, while 839 were employed in the healthcare sector within the provincial government. This provides insight into the specific areas where foreign expertise and skills are being utilized to support the delivery of public services in South Africa.
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The revelation of these statistics by Minister Buthelezi has added a new dimension to the ongoing discussions around the role and employment of foreign nationals in the country’s public service. This data is likely to inform policy debates and decisions regarding the recruitment, integration, and management of this segment of the public workforce.
In South Africa, the distribution of positions occupied by foreign nationals in the public sector varies across different provinces. The Western Cape had the highest number with 353 positions, followed by Limpopo with 291 and the Free State with 235.
At the national level, the total number of positions occupied by foreign nationals stands at 724. The majority of these, 291 positions, were recorded in the Department of Higher Education and Training, while the Department of Constitutional Development had 201 foreign nationals employed.
The employment and utilization of foreign nationals in the public service is governed by the Constitution of South Africa as well as the relevant legislative acts. The Public Service Act of 1994 (PSA) mandates the Department of Public Service and Administration to support the Minister in establishing norms and standards relating to the conditions of service and other employment practices for all public servants.
Specifically, Section 10(a) of the PSA states that “no person shall be appointed permanently, whether on probation or not, to any post on the establishment in a department unless he or she (a) is a South African citizen or permanent resident”. This indicates that the employment of foreign nationals in the public service is subject to strict regulations and requirements.
The rationale behind these provisions is to prioritize the employment of South African citizens and permanent residents in the public sector, while allowing for the strategic and regulated utilization of foreign expertise where necessary. This approach aims to balance the country’s developmental needs with the imperative to create employment opportunities for the local population.
The employment of foreign nationals in the public service is therefore a carefully managed process, guided by the constitutional and legislative framework, to ensure alignment with national priorities and the fair distribution of public sector jobs.
“an appropriate permit in terms of the Immigration Act.”
Buthelezi, according to the 1996 Constitutional Court ruling, pointed out that foreign individuals with permanent residency status enjoy the same rights as South African citizens including in employment.
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The original passage discusses the rights of foreign individuals with permanent residency status in South Africa. According to the 1996 Constitutional Court ruling, as cited by Buthelezi, these foreign individuals enjoy the same rights as South African citizens, including the right to employment.
This ruling is significant as it establishes that permanent residents, despite their non-citizen status, are entitled to the same protections and opportunities as South African citizens. This is an important safeguard against discrimination and ensures that permanent residents can fully participate in the economic and social life of the country.
The passage also mentions the requirement of an “appropriate permit in terms of the Immigration Act.” This suggests that while permanent residents have equal rights, they must still comply with the relevant immigration laws and regulations. The permit requirement ensures that the government maintains control over the entry and residence of foreign nationals in the country.
Overall, the passage highlights the legal framework that governs the rights and status of permanent residents in South Africa. It underscores the efforts to ensure equality and non-discrimination, while also maintaining the government’s authority over immigration matters.
“The categorisation of the information below, would therefore, include permanent residents and sometimes, South Africans with dual citizenship.”
Buthelezi said the department’s policy on the utilisation of foreign nationals to address human resource (HR), and skills needs in the public service is being revised into a directive to promote professionalism.
“In addition, it aligns with new developments in the future world of work and provides clear guidance on recruitment, selection, and secondment procedures of foreign nationals,” said Buthelezi.
