Professor E Chang MP

The Inkatha Freedom Party expresses its concern with the contracts being offered to the Head of the Departments of Trade and Industry and its agencies. 

What is even worse is that most of them are unable to renegotiate their contracts until three months before their contracts expires - creating job insecurity.  

The renewal of contracts should be discussed 18 months prior their expiry, and concluded within six months. This is vital to retain the team of top departmental heads, thus preventing a skills exodus and crisis. 

Three year contracts to Heads of Departments are not acceptable and they should be at least five year contracts. The Director General of DTI has a three year contract, which is creating difficulty not only for himself, but also for the ministry and department. It is crucial that such important technical knowledge is not lost prematurely. 

As new Members of Parliament, it took us more than three years to become sufficiently familiar with our jobs.  

The IFP calls for this matter to be seriously reconsidered.

Thank you