Inagural Thought Leadership Webinar Successfully Hosted by The Public Service Commission
12 July 2024
During the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, the PSC launched a Thought Leadership Webinar under the theme "Good Governance and
Accountability as the Cornerstone for Service Excellence". The Webinar, which targeted public servants, focused on the role that public servants
should play to assist government and public institutions to curb corruption.
Addressing the attendees on the purpose of the Webinar, the Deputy Chairperson of the PSC, Ms Zukiswa Mqolomba said, "the Thought Leadership Forum
aims to inculcate a culture in the public service of thinking about public sector practices, regulations and laws, and reforms. Furthermore, it aims
to promote discussions and debates about the Constitutional Values and Principles", amongst others.
She further said: "it is envisaged that the Webinar will cultivate leadership in the Public Service by building the capabilities of public sector experts
while at the same time grooming other public sector leaders and increase the confidence of the citizenry in the Public Service".
"Through these Webinars, the PSC aims to build a new cadre and next generation of public servants, which will be agile, competent, ethical, developmental,
transformative and service-orientated", said Commissioner Mqolomba.
The Chairperson of the PSC, Professor Somadoda Fikeni opened the Webinar, while Professor Mandla Makhanya briefly explained the mandate of the PSC. Professor
Firoz Cachalia who is the Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council delivered the keynote address and outlined the role of ethics officers
and compliance professionals in assisting public institutions to curb fraud and corruption through integrity. In his address, Professor Cachalia emphasized the
fact that the fight against corruption is at the center of the Country’s renewal project.
Reflecting on the issue of values at both administrative and political level, Professor Cachalia said: "It is time to demand ethical leadership and ethical
behaviour on the part of our political leaders to ensure that the agenda of professionalization of the public service can succeed". He further said: "It is
unlikely for our objectives to be achieved in the coming decades unless we can ensure that values that are essential to the project of professionalization
in the public service are widely embraced by public servants and in our society and that political leaders are the ones who can be trusted to embody and
represent these values".
Professor Cachalia acknowledged the work that ethical officer carryout in their respective Departments including the challenges that they experience from
time to time. He further stressed that "training and career pathing of ethics officers is a function that must be professionalized".
Some of the attendees expressed their appreciation to the PSC for creating a platform where public servants can engage with experts on matters affecting
the Public Service. Professor Fikeni was appreciative of the number of public servants who participated at the Webinar and acknowledged that more of these
engagements on a variety of topics will be arranged by the PSC. In this regard, the Thought Leadership Webinars will be held quarterly with the focus on
transformational issues affecting the performance of the public service.
Commissioner Mqolomba concluded the Webinar by congratulating the attendees for being part of the inaugural launch. She called on everyone in attendance
to make the 7th administration an impactful monumental time to remember and to think about public service practices.
The Webinar was also attended by PSC Commissioners and public servants from different government departments and Entities.
Enquiries: Humphrey Ramafoko - 082 782 1730
Issued by the Public Service Commission
National Anti-Corruption Hotline: 0800 701 701
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