Pretoria: The total capped leave liability in the public sector stood at R16.24 billion as of December 2023, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said on Tuesday. Standing at R16.24 billion and covering 189,039 employees, the total capped leave liability represents approximately 14% of the total public service workforce.
According to South African Government News Agency, PSC Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya highlighted that this cost continues to increase due to cost-of-living adjustments and appointments into higher positions. Gxoyiya noted at a media briefing in Pretoria that the majority of employees with capped leave are concentrated in the education and health sectors, with many nearing retirement. This raises concerns about potential future skills shortages in these critical areas if not proactively addressed.
Gxoyiya also addressed the issue of study leave, a type of special leave, with data showing that between 17,733 and 20,651 employees took study leave from 2020 to 2023 at the national level. Provincially, 21,004 to 23,265 employees took study leave during the same period, with significant concentrations in the Health and Education Departments. The average number of study leave days ranged from five to eight, with national departments averaging 8.5 days.
The Commissioner explained that special leave is a negotiated benefit under public service employment conditions. Prior to the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council Resolution 2 of 2024, departments had varied special leave policies, leading to a lack of uniformity across the public service. Additionally, there was an increase in sick leave usage in 2022, following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and a return to full-time workplace operations.
Regarding grievances, Gxoyiya reported that as of 31 March 2025, the PSC registered 439 grievances, including 85 carried over from the previous financial year. Of these, 338 (77%) were concluded, while 101 (23%) remained pending. The concluded cases saw a range of outcomes, with some internally resolved within departments following the PSC’s intervention.
Among the grievances, 403 were for employees on salary levels 2-12, and 36 for Senior Management Service (SMS) members. Of the grievances for employees on salary levels 2-12, 309 were concluded, with 282 (91%) resolved within 150 working days. For SMS members, 29 grievances were concluded, with 24 (83%) resolved within the same timeframe.
The Commission expressed concern over some departments’ failure to conclude grievances within prescribed timeframes. The PSC plans to investigate the causes of delays, aiming to determine if they stem from unrealistic timeframes, human resource capacity issues, or other reasons.