“We dont even have chairs and tables let alone laptops”, Social Development staff complain

The staff at the Free State Social Development is up in arms following the procurement of three laptops for over R130 000.
 
This followed our article last week in which we reported the department procured three Lenovo ThinkPads for R133 591.60
 
Three staff members who spoke on condition of anonymity said for years they have been waiting for laptops and other tools of the trade and they gave up on complaining.
 
The leaked minutes of the ITC meeting held on 21 August 2021 shows the divisional budget was reduced from R16 593 750.00 to R5 456 250.00 which is barely enough to cover all contractual obligations.
 
What is even interesting about these minutes is even the MEC’s automation of systems within the department, deployment of e-submission which has a cost of R1.8 million can not be achieved because there is no budget allocated to it.
 
It boggles the mind how 46 officials with a disability who do not have tools of the trade are overlooked in terms of computers by the department that spends R133 000 on three laptops while they dont have basic tools.
 
It doesn’t end there, visually impaired officials do not have jaws systems
 
If this is funny enough wait for it, the department has asked officials who need laptops to identify funds from their budget.
 
A source said they do not have chairs.
 
“Not having computers in this department is a norm, we don’t have chairs and tables to work from. Things are bad.”
 
Talking about furniture, two weeks ago Sheriff of the Court attached the department’s property due to the R3 million the department owes Dibuo Maputle won a case against the department and for two years the department has allegedly been stalling till now.
 
Last month we reported a similar case where it alleged a qualified social auxiliary worker was overlooked and instead Manthatisi Tsotetsi, the wife of Daniel Tsotetsi, director of legal services was appointed.

Mathatisi was hired as her husband’s driver before she was appointed a social worker.
 
So there was a budget for a driver but there is no budget for tools of the trade.
 
The matter has been reported to NEHAWU and Public Service Association
 
Lindiwe Mnguni, acting Head of Communications said the three laptops were procured though for senior managers. 
 
“The three laptops were procured through normal SCM process using SITA Contract number RFB740 which is used by government departments to procure ICT end-user devices such as laptops and desktops.
 
The three laptops are allocated to three SMS members. Two managers needed new laptops because the laptops they were allocated are having hardware problems and are not reparable and the third SMS member needed a new laptop after the laptop that was allocated to him was stolen. The stolen laptop was reported to internally (SCM: Assets Management) and externally (SAPS).”
 
 
Asked about the challenges officials face daily due to budget cuts she said.
 
“The budget cut remains a problem in the provincial government and the department does reprioritize the budget to meet its mandate from time to time.”

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