The Public Service Commission’s highest decision making body, the Plenary, has committed to honour the year 2018, which has been marked as the year of Nelson Mandela, by boosting its anti-corruption efforts.
“The public service should epitomise good governance in his [Nelson Mandela] honour and build a positive future for South Africa. The PSC will intensify efforts to promote the constitutional values and principles across the public service,” said the PSC.
The PSC, which is the body mandated to oversee the administration of the public service, held its quarterly Plenary last week to deal with a number of strategic issues within its mandate.
Chief among its discussions was the need for the PSC to intensify its anti-corruption efforts by improving the management of the National Anti-Corruption Hotline and implementation of the Financial Disclosure Framework.
The PSC also wants to improve engagement with the relevant Ministers, MECs, municipal councils and other responsible parties to ensure that the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) is empowered to exert influence to curb corruption through active participation by all role players.
Monitoring and reporting on financial misconduct cases is also an area the PSC wants to improve on.
Downsizing of cabinet
The Plenary said it is in full support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to trim down his Cabinet and would advise the Presidency accordingly.
“The structure and size of the State must be optimally suited to meet the needs of the people, as articulated by President Ramaphosa during his maiden State of the Nation Address. To this end, the PSC will within its constitutional mandate advise the Presidency in this process,” said the commission.
Stable leadership in the public service
In addition to a slimmer cabinet, the PSC called on the President to ensure stability in the leadership echelon of the public service.
“The PSC will firstly engage with the Presidency and Department Public Service with regard to the implementation of the National Development Plan recommendations on the establishment of the Head of Administration.
“[We will] collaborate with the National School of Government, Presidency and Ministry for Public Service and Administration on the induction of Executive Authorities (EAs) and Heads of Department (HoDs) using the guide on induction of EAs and HoDs that the PSC has produced,” the Commission said. – SAnews.gov.za
