Agriculture Minister Steenhuisen says department will not review veterinarian salaries
The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has said his department will not review salaries for state veterinarians
Image: Phando Jikelo / Parliament of RSA
The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has said his department will not review salaries for state veterinarians, noting that newly qualified vets are already paid at a middle-management level in the public service.
Steenhuisen made the statement in response to a parliamentary question from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Laetitia Heloise, who raised concerns about the shortage of veterinarians and the ongoing loss of qualified professionals to other countries.
Steenhuisen said that reviewing salaries was not the responsibility of his department, but fell under the Department of Public Service and Administration.
"No. While it is worth mentioning that remuneration of public servants is the competency of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), newly qualified veterinarians are remunerated at middle management (deputy director (SL 11) salary grading scale for Government," Steenhuisen said.
"Remuneration of medical doctors is based on the Occupations Specific Dispensation (OSD) that was implemented as a once-off intervention by the DPSA.
The Minister revealed that the department has commissioned the South African Veterinary Council to conduct a study on the impact of the compulsory community service programme, which is expected to conclude by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
"Confirmation of the grading of the veterinarian's job will be part of the fit-for-purpose organisational structure milestones – this will determine whether or not there is a basis for a salary upgrade.
"Owing to the continued shortage of veterinarians despite the CCS programme, the Department has commissioned the South African Veterinary Council to institute a study on the impact assessment of the CCS programme"
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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