Government fine-tunes public service machine

THE GOVERNMENT says it has taken the first step towards improving its image and delivering satisfactory services in a dignified manner. That came with the move to look at how to professionalise public service.

Earlier this month, Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu appointed a task team to assist the government through the National School of Government (NSG) to finalise the National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service.

This followed last year’s release of the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service for public comment.

The task team is led by Tshwane University of Technology’s professor of public affairs, Mashupye Maserumule, as a convenor and Priscilla Mdlalose as his deputy.

The idea behind the task team comes from the sixth administration’s desire to create a capable, ethical and developmental public service. This week, Maserumule explained what they will be doing.

He said the panel had been set up to advise on the finalisation of the draft national implementation framework.

“The Cabinet has already approved the draft, and it is gazetted. The draft is freely available online. I must say professionalisation of the public service has long been an elusive pursuit. For it to have been put on the agenda is important, especially as a pursuit to enhance the capacity of the state,” he said.

Maserumule added that as a panel, they understand the opportunity they have been given to contribute towards the evolution of the post-apartheid state and the optimisation of our constitutional democracy on matters such as socio-economic justice, which is the function of the quality of the public service.

“The panel was put together as a peer review mechanism to enhance the quality of the draft framework, particularly as it relates to its adequacy in covering a myriad of factors that are critically important for institutionalising professionalism in the public service,” he said.

The panel is expected to work around the clock as it has been given three months to conclude its work. Maserumule is not worried about the time frame or the scope of the work. He said assisting in laying the foundation for the building blocks of a compelling state was worth it.

“Given an opportunity to directly contribute towards the evolution of the post-apartheid South Africa is an honour that asserts one’s patriotism. Also, interacting with colleagues from different professional environments creates an opportunity to enhance one’s insight with diverse perspectives, which is good for professional growth,” Maserumule remarked.

The panel consists of diverse expertise drawn from various professional sectors: legislative and policy reforms, governance, build environment, finance and audit, legal services, human resource management, local government, state-owned enterprises, academia, civil society, business and quality councils.

Other task team members are:

Legislative and policy reforms Enver Daniels (former chief state law advisor and current deputy chairperson of Competition Tribunal) Governance

Professor Somadoda Fikeni (commissioner on the Public Service Commission)

Built environment

Priscilla Mdlalose (CEO of the Council for the Built Environment and deputy convenor

Chris Campbell (CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa)

Finance and audit

Freeman Nomvalo (CEO of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants)

Jan van Schalkwyk (Office of the Auditor-General)

Gershon Sibinda (Office of the Accountant General, National Treasury)

Legal

Fhedzisani Pandelani (solicitor-general, Department of Justice) Charity Nzuza (CEO of the Legal Practice Council)

Human resource management

Dr Ajay Jivan (head of research and assurance, South African Board for People Practices)

Local government

Xolile George (CEO of the South African Local Government Association) Dr Mpilo Ngubane (Institute for Local Government Management)

Dr Fawcett Ngoatje (executive, Rand Water Institute)

Dr Andrew Johnson (chief learning officer, Eskom Academy of Learning) Khaya Ngema (chief people officer, Transnet)

Academia

Professor Pumela Msweli (acting executive dean at the College of Graduate School of Business Leadership, Unisa) Professor Mzukisi Qobo (Wits School of Governance)

Professor William Gumede (Wits School of Governance)

Civil society

Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi (executive director of the Public Affairs Research Institute)

Business

Tanya Cohen (national co-ordinator of the Public-Private Growth Initiative and former CEO of Business Unity South Africa)

Quality councils

Professor Kethamonie Naidoo (director of accreditation, Council for Higher Education)

Thomas Lata (Quality Council for Trades and Occupation)

Japie Nel (senior manager at the South African Qualifications Authority)