More than 100 funded positions in Nelson Mandela Bay's Safety and Security department remain vacant due to bureaucratic delays. Acting executive director Shadrack Sibiya reports that internal approvals from other municipal departments are holding up appointments. Councillors warn that these shortages risk residents' safety through slower responses and increased overtime costs.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, the Safety and Security department faces significant staffing shortages, with 132 funded vacancies across key sub-directorates including disaster management, Fire and Emergency Services, Security Services, and Traffic and Licensing Service. Some senior roles have been empty for nearly two years, according to a report by acting executive director Shadrack Sibiya.
Sibiya's report, originally set for discussion on 24 February but postponed, highlights delays caused by internal bureaucracy. For instance, interviews for the senior director and director of operations in Fire and Emergency Services occurred on 12 and 18 December 2024, yet these positions remain unfilled more than a year later. In Traffic and Licensing, appointments await final administrative sign-offs. The Fire and Emergency Services sub-directorate lacks four firefighters, Security Services has 26 open watchman posts, and the Metro Police Department has advertised for a chief of police and five constables.
DA councillor Jason Grobbelaar, a safety and security committee member, expressed concern over the impact. "Fewer Safety and Security personnel means slower response times and less visibility. It increases the pressure on existing staff due to overtime work and this leads to a city that puts the safety and security of our residents and our lives at risk," he said. Grobbelaar also noted higher overtime costs and the risk of funds being redirected, as occurred last year, halting recruitment.
Municipality spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya explained that vacancies are addressed through a phased approach due to fiscal constraints. "Critical service delivery areas, including Safety and Security, remain a priority, and efforts are ongoing to strengthen capacity in line with available resources," Soyaya stated.
Good party councillor Lawrence Troon questioned the delays despite available funding. "The biggest question is this: here is money, here are funded vacancies, why don’t you fill those positions? It is extremely concerning that a directorate with a healthy budget is performing so ineffectively," Troon said, attributing issues to a lack of consequence management for division heads.