Covid-19 prompts nearly 5 000 public servants to take early retirement By Mayibongwe Maqhina Share Cape Town - Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has revealed that nearly 5000 public servants have taken early retirement as of last month since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year. Mchunu revealed this when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from DA MP Mimmy Gondwe. Gondwe enquired about the number of public servants who took early retirement since the start of the lockdown to curb the spread of the virus in March 2020. She wanted to be furnished with a breakdown at national and provincial level, as well as the breakdown of the relevant number in each government department.