Rather than just the "Ghost" Employees, we need to worry about those who are physically present and able, but "Mentally and Emotionally" disengaged. These "Living-Dead" Employees are the bigger problem in the Public Service (and in the Private Sector too!)

In some instances it is lack of tools/resources (vehicles/hospital equipment/IT systems not working). I have pictures of vehicles in various states of dis-repair at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital and Golf Carts at King Shaka Airport, or know of Universities without printers, or Hospital Dentistry Departments without working chairs and equipment.

In most cases the core issue is a lack of accountability and/or consequences for non-performance and non-management. We all know of "comm-serve" health professional staff / nurses / administrators leaving at or before 2pm. In one case they apparently "take turns" to take the day off.

#Poor Management: Those who should be making people and systems work don't know how, are too scared to do so, are not interested or are so "unsupported" that they can't.

#Quiet Quitting: Even "capable and competent" state employees are frustrated and demotivated into "quiet quitting" (go to work to do the minimum) or "conscious incompetence" (dropping their work quality to match the lowest performing co-worker).

This "there-but-not-there" attitude is often driven by incompetent leadership and management, or political interference and unreasonable policies.

Our problem is a "National Psyche". It is an acceptance/ tolerance of "working just enough to not get fired" (too hard to fire the non-performers and few managers have the skills to follow process correctly), and the idea that "work is ONLY a means to an income."

The "Ghost Employees" are NOT the problem. It is the "Living-Dead Employees" (many of whom are politicians!) who are sucking the energy, money and motivation out of our Public Service.

• Yes, much of Government Advertising has become about self-promotion and party political pandering, and THAT must STOP.
• Yes, we have created a ridiculous expectation of "Feed Me" at Public, SOEs (and Private) sector events. (I pointed out to people at a TRANSNET Supplier Event how much food was simply dished out and not eaten, or how people to pack for taking home/ the organisers "order excessive amounts" so they can take home the excess)

All that "loss" is minuscule relative to the "under-productivity" of a large number/majority of State/Publicly Funded Employees and the associated "programmes" (NYDA, SETAs, Internships, Supplier Development Schemes, etc.).

Political Parties and business the others need to stop "sloganeering" and using "buzz words" like Ghost Employees and start tackling the real issues.

How do we change our National Psyche?