Government Departments Not Answering Calls, Told to Update Contact Details

After many unanswered calls by government departments, the Public Service Commission has appealed to them to update contact details on their websites so citizens can reach them. Many have not been updated despite lockdown being in effect for three weeks already.

The PSC said it has been inundated with unanswered calls and unreachable numbers. The commission is tasked to investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation and administration of the public service.

“Departments that have locked down and are working on strategies to intensify delivery of services, should also be mindful of providing reachable contact details, as the Public Service Commission has been inundated with unanswered calls, as well as unreachable numbers,” it said in a statement today.

“The PSC has sent a communique to all Directors-General and Heads of Department, who have been directed to identify the minimum critical and essential services that must remain available to the public during the lockdown period, and to also update reachable contact details on their websites for citizens for effective service delivery,” the PSC said on Monday.

It said that government in general has been inundated with calls during the lockdown and understandably, the backlog might cause frustration to citizens, who are trying to access service from government.

“Providing a reachable (number) and additional form of communication to citizens, including contact details of those personnel working from home, will go a long way in providing an effective service to citizens under these trying times.

“We appeal to all government departments to ease the growing number of already frustrated citizens by being accessible, effective and provide accurate information.”

– SAnews.gov.za