Political activists have no place in gov�t programmes
Lebogang Baingapi | Tuesday October 31, 2017 15:32
The head of welfare from Department of National Service and Internship, Omphile Montsho warned during a consultative meeting in Jwaneng on Thursday. He said people on these programmes are considered public servants who should not be politically active.
Though participants’ concerns were that they were excluded in the recent salary increase, Montsho explained that they are only considered civil servants by the nature of the work and workplace, but their allowance increment is determined by Parliament from time to time.
Also, Montsho explained that participants have been excluded from taking imprest during official trips because, according to the records, they have misused such a privilege and exited the programme without retiring their imprests. Instead, participants are entitled to Government Purchasing Order (GPO), where they do not handle cash.
“Participants have in many occasions run away after getting imprest and their supervisors had to account to the government fund. This has led to the current decision of GPO. You are however entitled to overtime and subsistence allowance like other officers,” he explained.
Montsho further warned of perpetual fraudulence, which prevails in most government departments where a participant will continue to receive allowance after exiting the programme.
He added that participants are entrusted with confidential information and should show maturity and display responsibility all the time.
Montsho also warned that those who are attachedto schools would be closely monitored because of the sensitivity of the environment.
That will include prohibition of drug use, which will result in immediate dismissal of the participant.
On other issues, Montsho implored participants to seek alternative work opportunities than to depend entirely on government flagship programmes. He said the programmes were only meant to empower and give the youth a platform to gain industrial exposure.
Though the participants decried that they were excluded from internal posts, Montsho advised them to seek advice and clarity from their supervisors on the matter with reference to the Employment Act.