Interviews of short-listed candidates to serve as Commissioners at the Public Service Commission: day 2

Meeting report

Interviews of Candidates
 
The candidates were asked the following questions:

Mr Madimeja Ledwaba

●He was asked to give a quick background of himself and how he would assist the PSC.

●He was asked his understanding of the basic values and principles governing public administration.

●He was asked how he would advise the 3 spheres of Government to effectively and efficiently implement the basic values and principles.

●He was asked to provide practical examples of the work the PSC was doing on the ground in terms of successes and failures.

●He was asked what the relationship was between the Chapter 9 institutions and the PSC, and how he would ensure that the work of those institutions complement the aim of promoting good governance and integrity of the state.

●He was asked how he could assist the PSC in ensuring that Government Departments appointed competent public servants especially at senior management level positions.

●He was asked whether he taught that the PSC as a custodian of good governance could minimise political interference in public administration which as a result affected service delivery.

●He was asked what the reason was for non-compliance by the government departments and how he would assist in that regard.

●He was asked to elaborate on what caused the perceived political interference into the public administration.

●He was asked in terms of the appointment of Administrative Heads by Executive Authorities, what could be his strategy for the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) recommendations with regard to the appointment of Administrative Heads throughout the public service.

●He was asked what were the major factors that contributed to the high turnover for the Administrative Heads, and how did that turnover impact on the performance of the departments.

●He was asked what it was that he would contribute to the PSC if appointed as a Commissioner.

●He was asked whether there was any question that he wanted to pose to the Committee.

Refer to audio for response.


Ms Sellinah Nkosi

●She was asked to give a quick background of herself and how she would assist the PSC.

●She was asked to elaborate from her practical experience as a Commissioner what caused the perceived political interference in the public service.

●She was asked whether the appointment of the Administrative Head would minimise the political interference in the public administration.

●She was informed that the NDP had recommended that the oversight role of the PSC be strengthened. In that regard, she was asked how best section 195(2) of the Constitution could be enforced to implement PSC recommendations that were drawn up.

●She was asked what her strategy would be in the implementation of the recommendations of the NDP in terms of appointment of Administrative Heads throughout the public service.

●She was asked how she would ensure that the work of the PSC was well marketed at different Government Legislatures because it was evident that the Provincial Legislatures did not feel the existence of the PSC.

●She was asked in terms of the appointment of Administrative Heads by Executive Authorities, what would be her strategy for the implementation of the NDP recommendations with regard to the appointment of Administrative Heads throughout the public service.

●She was asked what the major factors were that contributed to the high turnover of Administrative Heads, and how that turnover impacted on the performance of the departments. She was further asked to share practical examples.

●She was asked what the relationship was between the Chapter 9 institutions and the PSC.

●She was asked how she could ensure that the work of Chapter 9 institutions and PSC complement the aim of promoting good governance and integrity of the state.

●She was asked what the current Government systems were in terms of combating the scourge of corruption, giving practical examples.

●She was asked what the overlap functions were of the new Anti- Corruption Bureau within the PSC on corruption, and how it would be coordinated.

●She was asked what the relationship was between the PSC and the Department of Public Service and Administration in terms of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) which was the role of PSC.

●She was asked whether in terms of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) what the strength and weaknesses were of PSC in order for it to produce more meaningful results that contributed to development agenda of the country.

●She was asked what the relationship was between the PSC and the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration.

●She was asked what major contributions she would bring to the PSC if she was retained as a Commissioner.


●She was asked whether there was any question that she wanted to pose to the Committee.


Refer to audio for response.

The meeting was adjourned.