We often hear your frustration about poor service in government departments — long queues, unanswered phones, missing paperwork, and officials who simply seem unwilling to help. To be fair, many public servants are working under immense pressure and doing their best.

We often hear your frustration about poor service in government departments — long queues, unanswered phones, missing paperwork, and officials who simply seem unwilling to help. To be fair, many public servants are working under immense pressure and doing their best. But there are also repeated complaints about employees who appear to be neglecting their duties, leaving the public angry and demanding accountability. The question is: can underperforming civil servants simply be fired? And what exactly does labour law require before the state can remove employees who are failing to deliver?  Guest: Marthinus van Staden, Wits University School of Law professor