Side hustles to get civil servants in hot water

Civil servants who sell goods at the workplace without written approval face disciplinary action ranging from a N$2 000 fine to dismissal, the Public Service Commission has warned. PSC chairperson Patrick Nandago this week said public servants must serve the public instead of turning workplaces into their business premises. After the commission’s regional visits come to an end on Friday, managers and supervisors at public institutions can apply the Public Service Act 13 of 1995, stating that conducting private sales or business during official working hours without written approval constitutes serious misconduct. A worker could face a formal disciplinary hearing, a formal caution or written reprimand, an administrative fine of up to N$2 000, compulsory transfer, salary reduction, demotion, or dismissal from the public service.

The warning comes as the PSC is visiting regional councils and governors’ offices to address human resource management, performance and compliance with public service regulations. The commission visited the Zambezi region last week, followed by Kavango East region on Monday and yesterday. It will visit the Kavango West region today, with further engagements planned in other regions. The engagements aim to improve service delivery across government structures. “Civil servants are not supposed to be selling their goods at workplaces. Leadership must not allow civil servants to abuse working hours,” Nandago told The Namibian yesterday. The prohibition includes selling sweets, ‘order with me’ items, hampers and cakes. TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS The commission has further come across concerns about transparency, recruitment processes and deteriorating public infrastructure. Nandago says the findings and recommendations from the visits would be compiled…