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Paid millions to stay home: suspended officials cost country R800m

Theherald · · 140 words · By Isaac Mahlangu
Government Waste Public Sector Corruption
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What to know about Government Waste

A staggering R800m of taxpayers’ money is spent each year on salaries for hundreds of suspended public servants at national and provincial level — many of whom have been suspended for years.

Claims checked 4
Techniques found 1
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left33%
Center34%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A staggering R800m of taxpayers’ money is spent each year on salaries for hundreds of suspended public servants at national and provincial level — many of whom have been suspended for years.

Why it matters

The Sunday Times can reveal that in one case, a deputy director in the department of women, youth & people with disabilities, who was suspended in 2018 and subsequently found guilty of financial misconduct, has received more than R5m despite his position…

Common ground

The department says it is “in the process of completing his transfer” to another division while the case, now in the labour court, is finalised.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.theherald.co.za/news/2026-05-03-paid-millions-to-stay-home-suspended…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 4 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4
info
Claim 1: “A staggering R800m of taxpayers’ money is spent each year on salaries for hundreds of suspended public servants at national and provincial level”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions that the Gauteng Department of Health spends millions on suspended staff, but it does not confirm the specific national/provincial figure of R800 million. The other search results are irrelevant to the specific monetary claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — Of these salary levels, government employees on levels 12 to 16 earn over R1 million annually, and the data shows there are roughly 37,839 public servants across these levels.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/768267/government…
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web search NEUTRAL — Search 1M+ data points for different companies, job titles, career levels, and locations.
https://www.levels.fyi/
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web search NEUTRAL — JOHANNESBURG—South Africans want answers after the Department of Health in Gauteng revealed that it spends millions on salaries for suspended staff members.
https://briefly.co.za/politics/198013-gauteng-department-hea…
info
Claim 2: “a deputy director in the department of women, youth & people with disabilities, who was suspended in 2018 and subsequently found guilty of financial misconduct, has received more than R5m despite his position having been filled by someone else”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided web search results for this claim discuss fake messages, Donald Trump, and a petition, but none of them mention a deputy director in the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities receiving R5 million while suspended.
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web search NEUTRAL — This message is fake, and the public is urged not to ignore. Government is yet to provide an update on the SANSI programme, which also includes a call for applications, an update on SANSI will be comm…
https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/women-youth-and-per…
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web search NEUTRAL — Donald Trump made his disdain for people with disabilities clear when he mocked a disabled reporter during his first run for president.
https://liberationnews.org/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-is-dang…
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web search NEUTRAL — Women and youth, including persons with disabilities, are underrepresented in politics and governance processes and their priorities are systematically neglected. It is time to support them now!
https://www.change.org/p/women-youth-and-people-with-disabil…
info
Claim 3: “Spokesperson Cassius Selala said the official was no longer suspended, but being “transferred to a different unit that does not deal with supply chain management as a precautionary measure””
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result explicitly quotes spokesperson Cassius Selala stating the official was no longer suspended and was being transferred to a different unit as a precaution. Other results mention Selala but not this specific claim.
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web search NEUTRAL — Spokesperson Cassius Selala said the official was no longer suspended but was being “transferred to a different unit that does not deal with supply chain management as a precaution”.
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-05-03-…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has expressed concern over the pervasive “hidden crisis” of domestic and intimate partner.Department spokesperson Cassius Selala spoke out …
https://centralnews.co.za/department-raises-alarm-over-hidde…
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web search NEUTRAL — Young people in South Africa have been urged by the Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) to abstain from alcohol and drug abuse and to celebrate the holiday season sensibl…
https://thestar.co.za/news/2025-12-24-government-urges-young…
info
Claim 4: “The department says it is “in the process of completing his transfer” to another division while the case, now in the labour court, is finalised”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided consists of US Department of Labor and State budget/policy documents, which are entirely unrelated to the South African Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities.
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web search NEUTRAL — The FY 2027 Budget also reflects the Administration’s commitment to national security, trade, and fiscal responsibility. The Budget focuses the Department on its highest priority functions and disinve…
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/general/budget/2027/F…
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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 3, 2026 · Washington, DC 20520 STATEMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE The Department of State is unwavering in its commitment to an America First foreign policy that protects our sovereignty, strengt…
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FY2027-Depa…
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web search NEUTRAL — Nov 20, 2025 · DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Updated November 20, 2025
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-11/Organizat…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.