Public Service Commission expands its mandate to local government
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Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi has outlined the process to be followed by the Public Service Commission to extend its mandate to the local government sphere.
This occurs as the Public Service Commission Amendment Bill is being processed in Parliament.
'Over the next two and a half years, the Public Service Commission will work to institutionalise core values in local government, promoting ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and enhanced service delivery.
"By the end of the seventh administration, we expect to have made significant progress in institutionalising these values across all spheres of government, including state-owned entities,' Buthelezi said.
The Public Service Amendment Bill was first introduced in Parliament in October 2023 and lapsed at the end of the sixth administration in May 2024.
It was revived at the start of this administration in July 2024 and was referred to the Public Service and Administration Portfolio Committee.
The amendment bill has since been passed by the National Assembly in March and was transmitted to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.
Buthelezi said the recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Amendment Bill by the National Assembly marked a significant milestone in their commitment to strengthening the role of the commission in affirming its independence as a vital constitutional safeguard for promoting an ethical value system and good governance.
'The bill aims to achieve several key objectives. Firstly, it establishes a secretariat for the commission, enabling it to function as an independent and impartial constitutional body. This enhancement will support the commission in effectively fulfilling its mandate across the entire public administration, including local government and public entities,' he said.
Buthelezi also said the bill sought to improve the efficiency and impact of the commission by legally obligating Members of the Executive to act on the recommendations the commission issued after conducting investigations.
'This measure is key as we collectively build a capable, ethical, and developmental state where accountability is the standard for all of us.'
Buthelezi said they were strengthening the role of the Public Service Commission in the appointment of key people such as directors-general, deputy directors-general, CEOs of state-owned entities, board members, and other senior positions.
'The Public Service Commission has established a preliminary database of technical experts to participate in high-level selection committees for appointing top executives in the public sector. This database will be refined further, and a Good Practice Guide for Executive Recruitment will be developed.'
He also said the progress made with the processing of the bill so far was a significant step towards the achievement of the objectives as outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za
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