Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
30th January 2024 | 11:00 CAT
2 min read

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has expressed concern over the deteriorating state of the Government Printing Works (GPW). PSA believes the company is being poorly managed due to inadequate executive leadership, leading to its decline.

The PSA expressed a strong objection to the appointment of the current CEO, citing concerns that her lack of financial management and business administration skills would lead to chaos within the GPW. Despite these concerns, the Minister of Home Affairs insisted on appointing her to the position.

Reuben Maleka, the PSA General Manager, emphasised the crucial role of the GPW. The collapse of the GPW will make it difficult to obtain IDs, passports, and all other services rendered by the entity.

PSA expressed concern about GPW’s extensive outsourcing of core functions while continuously hiring new employees.

“GPW does all printing for government, such as printing of Matric papers, official documents for citizens; these processes had to be outsourced due to GPW being unable to cope as their resources were not channelled to their actual services but were channelled elsewhere where it doesn’t concern the main business of GPW. It starts small, but gradually, it will have a big impact, like all the impacts we felt from other state enterprises that have collapsed,” said Maleka.

PSA highlighted that the Minister and the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs have been ignoring pleas made to them.

“Today, it was confirmed by the Auditor-General of South Africa that GPW is on its way to becoming one of the failed entities of the government; intervention is essential at this point,” Maleka said.

The PSA reported that employees are dissatisfied and have low morale due to GPW’s deteriorating state. However, their concerns are being ignored.

“GPW was one entity that used to generate a surplus and could assist neighbouring countries with other services. However, that is slowly fading, as they are not coping due to incompetency and bad management of the personnel, resources and capacity,” Maleka said.

Reuben attributed the broken printing machines to poor strategic planning, lack of maintenance, and lack of replacement parts. Additionally, new machines are not installed until after the free maintenance contractual period.

“Without all stakeholders and parties voicing these concerns and intervening, GPW will be at risk of shutting down. We cannot afford to outsource to the Private sector as they will exploit the government the government by overcharging for outsourced services. GPW will soon be history if it continues in this manner,” warned Maleka.

The PSA has issued a statement urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to take action to prevent the collapse of the GPW.

The Association is disappointed to see another formerly successful government component being drained of its resources, similar to many other state-owned entities that have been brought to their knees.

LISTEN to the full interview with Mualimah Annisa Essack and PSA GM, Reuben Maleka, here.