If you have accepted a job role in a government institution without meeting merit selection principles, then you are a crony – there is no getting around it. If there is not an advertised position, then there is not an actual requirement for the role. I have no issues with people taking on extra duties, the accepted format is you ask everyone in the particular section if they are willing to take on extra responsibilities and duties.

Then everyone has the opportunity to step up and take on these duties, if people derive some benefits then everyone was given the opportunity to apply. If a small few are selected without any competitive selection process, this can only be crony selection, so much for equity principles. Let’s be under no illusions here, this is impropriety. A select few are offered special entitlements in a process that lacks transparency.

You generally find these are not people who are undertaking extra duties, they have special duties that are not available to others and have their workload reduced. This is the domain of the yes men, these people are promoted above their capacity and are in debt to those who promoted them. Likewise, they know these benefits can be removed if they do not support their leader – this is a pretty cosy arrangement for all involved.