The New Public Service Commission, starting on 1 July 1999

01 July 1999

Introduction

The new Public Service Commission (PSC) officially took office on 1 July 1999 in full compliance with the requirements of the Constitution 1996, the Public Service Commission Act, 1997 and the Public Service Act, 1994 as amended. The role and function of the new Commission is to promote constitutional values and principles, and monitor and evaluate compliance in public administration. It shares a vision to be an independent and impartial body to enhance excellence in governance within the public service by promoting a professional and ethical environment and adding value to public administration that is accountable, equitable, efficient, effective, and responsive to needs of the people of South Africa.

The new Public Service Commission comprises 14 members who were appointed by President Nelson Mandela in accordance with the Public Service Commission Act, 1997. Five Commissioners were recommended by the National Assembly and appointed by the President, while one commissioner from each province approved by a Provincial Legislature and nominated by the respective Premier, was also appointed by the President. Their assumption of duty, however, was delayed by technicalities identified in the Public Service Laws Amendment Act, 1997 which was resolved by a ruling of the Constitutional Court in March 1999.

Presently 12 members have taken up office and it is expected that the Commissioners from the Northern Province and Northern Cape will join the PSC soon as well. The current commissioners are:

Professor Stan Sangweni - Chairperson (NA);
Mr John Ernstzen - Deputy Chairperson (NA);
Ms Mamodupi Rantho (NA);
Dr Eddie Bain (NA);
Mr Jerry Vilakazi (NA);
Mr Squire Mahlangu (North-West);
Mr David Marsh (Mpumalanga);
Mr Vusi Mavuso (Gauteng);
Mr France Morule (Free State);
Mr Mzwandile Msoki (Eastern Cape);
Mr Bernard Wentzel (Western Cape); and
Mr Gabriel Zondi (KwaZulu-Natal).

1. Grievance Procedure

Through the years formal grievances of employees in the Public Service have been dealt with in terms of Public Service Regulation A.22. These existing prescripts regulating grievance procedures will lapse in terms of the new regulatory framework being issued by the Department of Public Service and Administration with effect from 1 July 1999. In terms of section 11 of the Public Service Commission Act, 47 of 1997, read with section 196(4)(f)(ii) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 and section 35(1) of the Public Service Laws Amendment Act, 47 of 1997, the new Public Service Commission will, with effect from 1 July 1999, be empowered to make rules with regard to the manner in which and the time within which a grievance of an employee should be investigated and submitted to the Commission. A task team has been appointed to undertake this work. In the interim, whilst awaiting the new Grievance Rules of the Commission, an agreement was reached in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council that Public Service Regulation A22 (in revised form) be retained as the interim Grievance Rules, until the Commission has promulgated a revised grievance procedure. The interim Grievance Rules have been Gazetted and published to be effective from 1 July 1999 as well.

2. Partnership with the People

President Mbeki in his State of the Nation address has spoken of a "partnership between government and the people" as the approach to be followed in fighting corruption. The Commission has played a critical role in the unfolding National Anti-Corruption Initiative by organising both the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference (1998) and the National Anti-Corruption Summit earlier this year. The Public Service Commission will continue seeking ways and means of ensuring the implementation of resolutions from these events to which national departments and provincial administrations are held accountable. Workshops designed to increase capacity to ensure proper financial management, control and accountability are to be held from September onwards throughout the country. The Code of Conduct for the Public Service will be made the subject of a monitoring mechanism intended to judge its effectiveness in enhancing professional conduct and a new promotional strategy is to be soon adopted to ensure awareness and compliance. The Commission is furthermore embarking on developing a national register for the declaration of assets and interests by public officials employed at management level. These steps taken collectively reiterate the Commission's commitment to honest, transparent and accountable government for the purpose of efficient and effective service delivery to the people of South Africa.

Contact Person: Yvonne Mogadime 082-448-2385

Issued by: Chairperson of the Public Service Commission