The Department of Public Service and Administration has issued a circular to Heads of National Departments, Provincial Departments, and Provincial Administrations to determine the adjustment of Standard and Special Danger Allowances with dating from July 1, 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
According to the circular, expenditure resulting from the adjusted tariffs and allowances must be defrayed from the current departmental budget allocations in terms of National Treasury approval, dated 10 January 2024.
The Determination and Directive on Danger Allowance must be read and applied in conjunction with PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2007 as amended by PSCBC Resolution 4 of 2015.
The provisions on the danger allowance
The employer shall pay the Standard Danger Allowance to an employee who during her or his employment experiences a genuine risk to her or his life and who is employed in one of the following occupational categories and identified areas at work (where indicated):
Traffic/Regulatory Inspectors; Centre-based Correctional Officers guarding prisoners.
Social Workers, Social Auxiliary Workers, Youth Workers, Probation Workers, Nursing Personnel, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Vocational Counsellors and Health Related Workers, working with prisoners, people held in Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC) in terms of section 196 of the Children’s Act, 38 of 2005 and people on parole.
Nurses working with psychiatric patients; Educationists working with prisoners; Nature Conservationists involved in law enforcement and investigations.
Identified categories of emergency services personnel; Identified categories of Immigration Officers; Centre-based artisans working with prisoners; and Mine Health and Safety Inspectors.
The employer shall pay the Special Danger Allowance to an employee who works in the Department of Correctional Services and is involved in duties that require direct contact with maximum security prisoners; and is part of the Reaction Unit.
On a monthly basis if they experience a genuine risk to their lives each time they undertake their duties, at the following rates with effect from 1 July 2023:
- Standard Danger Allowance: R597.00 p.m.
- Special Danger Allowance: R894.00 p.m. or
- daily if they only experience a genuine risk to their lives at times during the performance of their duties.
- The daily rate of the Danger Allowances, is calculated according to the following formula: Annual Tariff/ 365
Example: R 597.00 x 12
365
= R 19.63 p.d.
The annual adjustment of the Standard and Special Danger Allowances will be effected on 1 July of each year based on the projected CPI as of 1 April of that year.
If an employee qualifies for both the Standard and Special Danger Allowances, she or he may receive both simultaneously.
The employer shall pay a danger allowance on the date an eligible employee receives her or his salary.
The employer shall stop paying the allowance when the employee stops being eligible.
