GOVERNMENT departments and entities have paid at leastR93,6-million to senior officials suspended with pay from April 2009 to the present, the Democratic Alliance said yesterday.
"The actual figure is certainly much higher, but is difficult to ascertain precisely because many departments have not answered the DA's questions on this," spokeswoman Ena van Schalkwyk said.
In the 2009/10 financial year, 192 officials on salary scale 11 or above were placed on suspended leave with full pay, she said in a statement.
Another 173 had been suspended with full pay since that time, totalling 365 officials. This amounted to an average of R257000 paid to each official while on suspension.
"Nearly R100-million has been paid to senior managers who have received full salaries despite not working," Van Schalkwyk said.
Most of these officials received their salaries while awaiting the outcome of their disciplinary hearings.
Top of the list was the SA Social Security Agency paying R8399462, followed by the Correctional Services Department on R6751607, and the Rural Development and Land Reform Department on R5800979.
"Of course, it is right that officials should not be punished financially just because they have been accused of wrongdoing. However, we cannot have a situation where suspended officials wait for months on end before the disciplinary measures against them are finalised."