The New Public Service Commission

23 November 1999

Introduction

The 14-member Public Service Commission is an independent and impartial body created by the Constitution. It 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 was amended.
The role and function of the Public Service Commission (PSC) 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.

CORE BUSINESS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Taking into account the values and principles laid down in the Constitution and the functional responsibilities of the Commission, the following core business areas have been identified:

Ethics (including anti-corruption, accountability and transparency):

• To develop a culture of professional and ethical behaviour in the Public Service
  
  Service Delivery (including organisation structures, service delivery processes, resource utilisation, and administrative practices):
   
• To promote effective and efficient service delivery and resource utilisation.
  
  Human Resources (including Affirmative Action, Human Resource Development, Personnel policies and practices, and conditions of service):
   
• To promote Affirmative Action, equity and a broadly representative public service, and to ensure that human resources in the public service are managed in compliance with constitutional values and principles and the transformation policies of government.
  
  Grievances and Complaints
  
  To provide an accessible and speedy grievance and complaint resolution mechanism for the Public Service, and to provide advice regarding procedures on appeals, and to promote Affirmative Action, equity and a broadly representative public service.
  
  Priorities of the Public Service Commission
  
  The priorities identified below cover the first year of the Commission's operations (July 1999 to June 2000). The priorities cover both national and provincial departments. Provincial-specific projects will also be undertaken as required.
  
  Ethics
   
• Coordinating the implementation of resolutions of the National Anti-Corruption Summit.
• Workshops on the Code of Conduct and anti-corruption.
• Developing Code of Conduct monitoring instrument and monitoring the effectiveness of the Code of Conduct.
• Developing resource material to support departments.
• Developing a register of assets of public service managers.
• Publishing ethics newsletter for distribution in the Public Service.
  
  Service Delivery
   
• Evaluating the implementation of Batho Pele.
• Departmental evaluations of service delivery standards and outputs.
• Researching alternative service delivery strategies.
• Evaluating effectiveness of organisation structures of selected departments.
• Investigating the use of consultants/contracting out in the Public Service.
• Drafting rules for monitoring and evaluation.
• Finalising the investigation/evaluation of departments' annual reports as accountability mechanisms.
  
  Human Resources
   
• Evaluating Affirmative Action programmes and targets achieved by departments on representativeness.
• Developing a common framework for monitoring and evaluating transformation.
• Establishing system for evaluating employment equity plans of departments.
• Evaluating human resource development programmes with reference to target groups.
• Evaluating management of performance agreements in management echelon.
• Finalising investigations into dismissals; probation; remunerated overtime; leave; career management; sick leave information; and special and danger allowances.
  
  Grievances and Complaints
   
• Investigating grievances
• Finalising appeals cases lodged before 1 July 1999.
• Drafting, negotiating and implementing new rules for handling of grievances.
• Conducting training workshops on new grievance rules.
• Drafting rules for investigating complaints.
• Monitoring trends in grievances.
• Evaluating the management of suspensions from the Public Service.
• Developing a manual to advise on procedures for dealing with appeals.

Responding to requests for assistance, advice or intervention

The Public Service Commission is mindful of the need to be responsive to the needs of stakeholders and will at all times endeavour to meet requests for assistance, advice or intervention.
Presently thirteen (13) of the fourteen members of the PSC have taken up office. They were appointed by President Nelson Mandela in accordance with the Public Service Commission Act, 1997. The National Assembly (NA) recommended five commissioners, and one commissioner from each province was approved by a Provincial Legislature and nominated by the respective Premier. They were then all appointed by the President. It is expected that the Commissioner from the 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);
• Mr Gabriel Zondi (KwaZulu-Natal); and Ms Moshito Victoria Mokgalong (Northern Province).

Contact Person: Yvonne Mogadime 082-448-2385

Issued by: The Public Service Commission [** on occasion of PSCom. JSV addressing MP Legislature]