Frequently asked questions

Q: Can a Department also pay an acting allowance to an employee who will be acting in the post of an employee who has been appointed to act in a higher vacant and funded post?

A: It is stipulated in the acting allowance policies for non-OSD employees on salary levels 1 to 12 and those covered by OSDs and for SMS members that the acting allowance is only payable if an employee is appointed to act in a vacant funded post. The provision that prevailed that allowed for an employee to receive an acting allowance for acting in a post of which the incumbent is appointed to act in a higher post was terminated with effect from 1 August 2016.

Q: If a person acts in a post that is at the same salary level as the one he/she occupies (e.g. a DDG acting in a vacant DDG post and such a post is at an HOD level), is such a person eligible to receive an acting allowance and a HoD allowance?

A: The acting allowance is only payable to an employee who has been appointed to act in a higher and funded vacant post. Therefore, the person in question is not eligible to receive an acting allowance but will be eligible for the 10% HoD allowance

Q: Can an employee occupying an OSD post be appointed to act in a vacant non-OSD post?

A: Yes, provided they meet the requirements as determined in terms of the acting allowance policy, i.e., higher post that is vacant and funded.

Q: Can an employee occupying a non-OSD post be appointed to act in a vacant OSD post?

A: No, because the OSDs are specific to certain (professional/specialist) occupations where there are minimum statutory requirements, e.g., registration with the relevant Council that should be considered. For example, an Administration (Ward) Clerk cannot be appointed to act as a Nurse because the requirements of the South African Nursing Council (SANC) would not allow such due to the defined scope of practice for the occupation as defined by law.