The Public Service Commission in North West to hold a Roundtable discussion on Financial Misconduct and The Non-Recovery of Money Lost due to Financial Misconduct

25 October 2018

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is mandated by the Constitution to amongst others; promote the Constitutional Values and Principles governing public administration as set out in Section 195 of the Constitution, throughout the Public Service. In its preamble, the Constitution outlines the fundamental values on which nation building and social cohesion should firmly rest, including redressing imbalances of the past. These values include human dignity, the achievement of equality, the advancement of human rights and freedoms, non-racialism and non-sexism, supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, democracy, social justice, equity and respect. Section 195 (1) of the Constitution has set out the principles that, together with the aforesaid democratic values must permeate all operations of public administration. Amongst others, the following are the public administration principles:

• A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.
• Efficient economic and effective use of resources must be promoted.
• Public administration must be accountable.

The round-table discussion intends to initiate a common and shared understanding of the intricacies of financial misconduct in the North West Provincial Departments. The PSC has over the years reported on finalised cases of financial misconduct by departments. The findings thereof have continued to point to a lack of a shared and common understanding amongst Public Servants on what constitutes financial misconduct and on what strategies could be used to recoup money lost due to financial misconduct.

In terms of the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999, departments at national and provincial level are legally required to submit to the PSC, financial misconduct reports on an annual basis in order for the PSC to formulate a report on financial misconduct throughout the public service and then report, on an annual basis to Parliament on the implementation thereof.
It is on this basis that the PSC in the North West will hold a roundtable discussion on financial misconduct and the non-recovery of money lost due to financial misconduct. Stakeholders that are expected to attend the roundtable include amongst others, the Premier and Director-General of the North West; members of the Senior Management Services, Ethics Officers, Labour Relations Officers, Chapter 9 Institutions and the Special Investigations Unit.

Media is invited to attend and cover the briefing as follows:

Issued by the Public Service Commission

For enquiries, please contact: Mr TD Modimola: Tel: (018) 384 1000; Cell: 071 880 9667; Email: Donaldm@opsc.gov.za 

National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701