Public Service Commission Addresses the Executive
Council of the North-west Province
15 March 2000
Mafikeng - March 15 2000 - Today the Public Service
Commission (PSC) gave a presentation to the Executive
Council of the North-west Province. This presentation forms
part of an outreach programme by the PSC to present its bona
fides to its key stakeholders, since its inception in July
1999 under new legislation. The PSC was represented at the
meeting by the chairperson, Professor Stan Sangweni, the PSC
North-west Region resident Commissioner Mr. Squire Mahlangu
and Director-General of the Office of the PSC, Mr. Mpume
Sikhosana.
The PSC has made presentations to several other
stakeholders, including, more recently, the Portfolio
Committee for the Public Service and Administration. The
purpose of these briefings is to exchange information on
what the PSC is doing or intends engaging in, and to listen
to the stakeholders' priority areas to enhance the role of
the Commission as a resource to them in performing their
functions. The discussions held also include issues
pertinent to the relationship between the PSC and the
stakeholder being addressed at each occasion.
Role and Function of the Public Service Commission
The main role and function of the Public Service Commission
is to promote constitutional values and principles, and
monitor and evaluate compliance in public administration. It
is an independent and impartial body to that enhances
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 the needs
of the people of South Africa. Being mindful of the need to
be responsive to needs of its stakeholders, the Public
Service Commission endeavours at all times to meet their
requests for assistance, advice or intervention. These ad
hoc requests form part of the workplan of the Commission.
Core Business Areas of the Public Service Commission
Up until its inception under new regulations in July 1999,
the Public Service Commission carried out transitional
executive functions in terms of the Interim Constitution,
1993. The PSC identified four main areas as its core
business having considered its functions, the values and
principles laid down in the Constitution, 1996 and other
legislation. The core business areas include Professional
Ethics, Service Delivery, Human Resources, Grievances and
Complaints. following objectives were set by the Commission
in terms of its core business.
Highlights of Projects of the Public Service Commission
The Public Service Commission is currently involved in a
number of projects that will contribute meaningfully to the
enhancement of public administration in South Africa. The
projects include, among others, the following:
- To ensure the improvement of delivery of services to
the public, a pilot project to evaluate departments'
adherence to the Batho Pele policy has been initiated
since late 1999. In collaboration with the DPSA, several
departments are being assessed on their service delivery
systems and plans. The evaluation includes surveys and
on-site visits to make first-hand observations and
conduct interviews. A comprehensive report will be
released shortly. Some of the critical findings that
have already been made are being raised with relevant
Ministers/MECs for urgent attention.
- The PSC has tabled two reports to the Portfolio
Committee for Public Service and Administration after
concluding investigations on the evaluation of the
management of leave and that of remunerated overtime in
the public service. These two reports indicated the
serious problems inherent in the management of both
these functions. It is hoped that the recommendations
will form an important basis for a review of these
conditions of service by the Minister of Public Service
and Administration. The findings also form a useful
yardstick that can be used by the Legislatures in their
oversight role.
- Cabinet appointed the Public Service Commission to
coordinate the monitoring of the implementation of
resolutions that emanated from the 1999 National
Anti-Corruption Summit. In discharging this
responsibility the PSC currently constitutes a
crosscutting national coordinating structure that is
required to manage the National Anti-Corruption
Programme, the ongoing campaign launched by the summit
under the auspices of government's National
Anti-Corruption Initiative (NACI). In line with this the
PSC has also begun to run a series of province-based
anti-corruption workshops that are intended to lend
support and mobilise vigilance of provincial
administrations in implementing their plans to curb
corruption to promote professional and ethical conduct
among senior public officials. A Risk Management
programme designed to forecast and control corruption
trends is being developed in conjunction with the DPSA.
- PSC is offering support and assistance for drafting
and development of Codes of Conduct for Parliamentarians
and employees of Local Governments. Systems for
monitoring the implementation of and adherence to codes
by national and provincial departments are being put
into place, which would lead to a reliable measure of
adherence.
- The PSC in collaboration with the DPSA has developed
an Assets Register as a mechanism for accountability and
prevention against corruption aimed at deputy directors
and higher-level officials in the public service. The
process of consulting with all relevant stakeholders is
currently underway. Implementation is expected to be
effective from April 2000. The Asset Register will be
managed by individual Executing Authorities, and the
monitoring of this process will be undertaken by the PSC.
- Draft grievance rules have been developed and have
undergone an extensive consultation process with
stakeholders in national and provincial departments.
Since these rules are a matter of mutual interest, they
will be tabled at the PSCBC for the necessary
consultation and negotiation.
PSC Projects in the Pipeline
In addition to its current activities, the Public Service
Commission has revised its business plan to enable it to
meet the current national priorities. The PSC will
continuously review this plan to satisfy other national
priorities as they unfold. Some of its projects for the Year
2000 to 2001 are the following:
- Investigations will be undertaken to evaluate the
efficacy of resource management processes in the public
service, including procurement, and the use of
consultants.
- Undertake an evaluation of a sampling of departments
on the effectiveness of their information systems.
- Investigate the implementation and management of
performance agreements for senior managers as well as
the their conditions of service.
- Collaborate with the DPSA to draw up a comprehensive
evaluation system for the performance of
Directors-General.
- Undertake provincial-specific projects in response
to requests from Provincial Governments, including
investigations into land administration, fleet
management and the establishment of GIS facilities in
the Eastern Cape.
- The Public Service Commission has been tasked by
Cabinet to develop a framework for the evaluation of
Heads of Department by April 2000.
Contact Communications: Yvonne Mogadime 082 448-2385
Issued by the Public Service Commission
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