Status on whether the department developed and adopted a policy providing guidelines for the appointment of individuals with a criminal record

QOUTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO:       1599

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 20 OF 09 OCTOBER 2009

MR K MUBU (DA) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATIONS:

(1) Whether the department developed and adopted a policy providing guidelines for the appointment of individuals with a criminal record; if so, (a) When was the policy (i) developed and (ii) adopted, and (b) please provide a copy of the policy; if not, are there any plans to develop and adopt such a policy; if so, (i) when, and (ii) what are the relevant details?

(2) Whether the department does any pre-employment screening of potential employees for criminal records; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

(3) Whether any employees with criminal records are currently employed by the department; if so, (a) how many, (b) what is their specific (i) job level and (ii) occupational category?

REPLY:

(1) Yes. The Department in its recruitment and selection policy makes provision that prior to appointment all officials be subjected to a criminal record clearance.
a, The policy was developed in 2006.
b, The policy was adopted in 2007.
c, The copy of the policy is attached. (See page 15 of the policy)

(2) Yes. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has a process of taking applicant finger prints and a copy of the identity document for criminal checks with the South African Police Service (Local Criminal Record Centre) for analysis prior to notification of appointment.

(3) Yes. 36 employees are in the employment of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation who have previous criminal records prior to employment.
• As part of the recruitment process, criminal record checks are conducted for all employees prior appointment in the Department.
• Should the record be positive, the Directorate Security advises the Director-General, whether to continue with the appointment or not, particularly records for less serious offences. A full security clearance investigation will be conducted before appointment.
• If the record is not serious the Department based on the advice from Security will effect the appointment. This explains the employment of 36 officials above.

UNQOUTE