Africa-Press – Botswana. The ongoing legal dispute concerning the eligibility of Bye-Law enforcement officers at local councils to receive the ‘scares skills’ allowance is currently subject to judicial proceedings.
The issue revolves around whether these officers are entitled to the benefits provided to their counterparts at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), land boards and the Deeds Registry.
Answering a parliamentary question on Tuesday, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, indicated that the matter is being deliberately kept from extensive debate in Parliament to avoid jeopardising the case in court.
The Minister explained that the Public Service Management Directive No 2 of 2008 clearly defines who is eligible for the scares skills allowance.
According to the directive, officers must possess relevant qualifications and be actively performing the duties associated with the scare skill occupation. Notably, Bye-Law enforcement officers are not listed as eligible under these criteria.
The legal proceedings continue to unfold, with the outcome potentially setting a precedent for benefits eligibility among local council officers..
Mr Motshegwa further explained that council Bye-Law officers’ duties are to enforce bye-laws. He highlighted that there are no Bye-Law officers at the DCEC, land boards and Deeds Registry.
Minister Motshegwa indicated that there are investigators at DCEC and land adjudicators at land boards who performed duties that are completely different from those of Bye-Law officers.
He was responding to a question from the MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Ruben Kaizer who had asked the minister if he was aware that Bye-Law enforcement officers at councils are not entitled to scares skills allowance like their counterparts at DCEC, land boards and Deeds Registry.
And if so, the MP wanted the minister to state the criteria used to exclude them from being paid the allowance. Mr Kaizer had also wanted to know if Bye-Law enforcement officers are appointed at the same qualifications as their counterparts at DCEC, land boards and Deeds Registry and if he would consider paying scarce skills allowance for the officers in question.
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