POLITICS

Consultations to be held on professionalisation of public service - Senzo Mchunu

Framework recommends, among other provisions, that public service be merit-based and insulated from party politics

Minister Mchunu outlines the public consultation process for the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service

25 April 2021

In December 2020, the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Mr Senzo Mchunu, approved the publication of the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service for public comments  

This was after Cabinet’s concurrence on the publication of the draft Framework, indicating that this was in line with the commitment made by the sixth administration, to create a capable, ethical and developmental public service. The Framework recommends, among other provisions, that the public service be merit-based and insulated from party politics. It also proposes five critical professionalisation pillars, which are:

i. Pre-entry recruitment and selection within the public service

ii. Induction and onboarding

iii. Planning and performance management

iv. Continuous learning and professional development

v. Career progression and management of career incidence

The National School of Government (the NSG) is leading this project on behalf of the Minister for the Public Service and Administration.

Professional bodies, interested parties, civil society organisations, institutions of higher learning, “think tanks”, organised labour and public servants were, and still are invited to participate in this consultation process which seeks to deepen the transformation of the Public Service into an ethical, effective and developmental machinery. In this regard, written submissions are being submitted to the NSG.

The Minister therefore wishes to outline a further two-week public consultation process with the following key stakeholders, starting from Monday, 15 February 2021 to Friday 26 February 2021 as follows: 

Functional Group 1 (15 February 2021): Civil society organisations, institutions of higher learning, experts and “think tanks”

Functional Group 2 (16 February 2021): Regulators, policy departments, oversight institutions and quality councils

Functional Group 3 (17 February 2021): Professional bodies and organisations in the built environment sector responsible for design,planning, implementation and project management (engineering, town planning, etc.)

Functional Group 4 (18 February 2021): Professional bodies and organisations in the Finance and Audit fields, including supply chain management and contracts management

Functional Group 5 (19 February 2021): Professional bodies and organisations in the human resource management/development and organisational development.

Functional Group 6 (22 February 2021): Professional bodies and organisations responsible for legal, governance, oversight and compliance functions

Functional Group 7 (23 February 2021): Organised labour

Functional Group 8 (24 February 2021): Professional bodies and organisations in local government

Functional Group 9 (25 February 2021): Professional bodies, organisations and government institutions responsible for stateowned entities

Functional Group 10 (26 February 2021): All recognised professional bodies (statutory and non-statutory)

This public consultation process is intended to solicit structured input and views towards finalising the framework document. Key among what is being sought through this process include:

The effect of professionalisation on performance of the Public Service in terms of mastering execution diligence

Which professionalisation considerations are required in terms of recruitment and career management of public servants who are both ethical, people-oriented and competent

Policy and legislative reforms that may be necessary to give effect to professionalisation

Opportunities for public servants in terms of lifelong learning, development and recognition of prior learning

Influence of the professionalisation framework on the higher and further education and training curriculum.

Stakeholders within the relevant functional groups are invited to confirm their participation in the virtual consultation sessions to this email address: [email protected](link sends e-mail). Details of the virtual link will be provided to confirmed individual/ parties.

The Minister for the Public Service and Administration has committed to engage, through the National School of Government, transparently with stakeholders and interested parties who have valuable contributions to make in the national effort of building a capable state that serves the citizens ethically and diligently.

Statement issued by Dikeledi Mokgokolo, Department of Public Service and Administration, 25 April 2021