Interviews of candidates for position of Public Service Commission chairperson

Meeting report

Candidate 1: Dr Tholumuzi Luthuli

The Chairperson firstly indicated that section 196 (10) of the Constitution prescribes that once the term of office of the National Commissioner of Public Service Commission (PSC) comes to an end, the Committee is required to advertise, interview and recommend a suitable candidate to Parliament for approval. Afterwards, the President would make the appointment. She then asked the candidate to introduce himself and to elaborate on his skills, expertise and any particular experience relevant to the job he was seeking.

Ms R Lesoma (ANC) asked what could be the best strategy in assisting the PSC in ensuring that government appointed competent and dedicated public servants in particular at the senior management level? She further asked if the candidate subscribed to the notion that the President should not be an immediate employer of the Director-Generals (Dgs).

Mr A van de Westhuizen (DA) briefly stated that the National Development Plan (NDP) recommended the strengthening of the oversight role of the PSC by making it compulsory for the departments to implement its recommendations. What causes the weaknesses or gaps in departments not implementing the recommendations of the PSC? How can Parliament assist in enforcing those recommendations? What could be done to enforce those recommendations by the PSC? What would be your strategy to ensure that those recommendations are enforceable?

Ms V Mente-Nqweniso (EFF) mentioned that the appointment of heads of departments was currently done by the Executive Authority which often lead to inconsistency or instability when there is a reshuffling of ministers. How would you be able to deal with this instability and ensure that officials are able to stay in a particular position for a lengthy period?

The Chairperson asked if the candidate had any strategy in place to deal with the issue of low morale as this affected productivity in the public sector.

Ms Lesoma indicated that section 196 (b) of the Constitution makes it very clear that “the role and functions of the PSC is to investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation and administration and the personal practices of services in its totality”. What would be the best ways to alert the Executives about corrupt practices in the public sector so as to avoid the perpetual trends of corruption and maladministration?

Ms Mente-Nqweniso asked if the candidate had ever been charged or involved in any corrupt practice? In addition, she asked what legislative framework the candidate would use to curb the perpetual problem of corruption at local government.

Please refer to audio for responses. Interview conducted from: 00:1:02

Candidate 2: Mr Ben Mthembu

The Chairperson asked the candidate to introduce himself and to elaborate on his skills, expertise and any particular experience relevant to the job he was seeking.

Ms Lesoma asked the candidate what would be the best ways to alert the Executives about corrupt practices in the public sector so as to avoid the perpetual trends of corruption and maladministration.

Mr Ntombela asked what causes political interference in the administration and how can these causes be eliminated with practical examples? What could be the role of the PSC in minimising political interference into administration as this affects service delivery? What would be your advice to the PSC to intensify the compliance rate in the disclosure of financial interests by the Senior Management Staff (SMS)? Why is the financial disclosure key in the public service in the first place?

Ms Mente-Nqweniso mentioned that the appointment of heads of departments was currently done by the Executive Authority which often leads to inconsistency or instability when there is a reshuffling of ministers. How would you be able to deal with this instability and ensure that officials are able to stay in a particular position for a lengthy period?

Ms Lesoma asked the candidate for his take in terms of the procedure for the reappointment of the commissioners and the assessment done to commissioners to ensure the level of required competence?

Ms Mente-Nqweniso sought the candidate's view on how the administration could move from recommendations to direction and the process involved in such movement? In addition, she asked the candidate if he had ever been charged or involved in any corrupt practice. Lastly, she asked what legislative framework the candidate would use to curb the perpetual problem of corruption at local government.

Mr Ntombela asked the candidate about his rate of concluding disciplinary cases during his tenure in the public service? Was it below average or above average?

Please refer to audio for responses. Interview conducted from: 1:03-2:06

Candidate 3: Ms Xolisa Hloma

The Chairperson asked the candidate to briefly introduce herself and to elaborate on her skills, expertise and any particular experience relevant to the job she was seeking.

Ms Lesoma asked the candidate what would be the best ways to alert the Executives about corrupt practices in the public sector so as to avoid the perpetual trends of corruption and maladministration. What could be the best strategy in assisting the PSC in ensuring that government appoints competent and dedicated public servants in particular at the senior management level?

Mr Ntombela asked what could be the role of the PSC in minimising political interference in the administration as this affected service delivery.

Ms Mente-Nqweniso firstly expressed a concern that the appointment heads of departments was currently done by the Executive Authority which often lead to instability when there is a reshuffling of ministers. How would the candidate be able to deal with this instability and ensure that there the officials are able to stay in a particular position for a lengthy period?

Please refer to audio (part 2) for responses. Interview conducted from: 00-45:00

Candidate 4: Prof Sesh Paruk

The Chairperson asked the candidate to briefly introduce herself and to elaborate on her skills, expertise and any particular experience relevant to the job she was seeking.

Ms Lesoma asked the candidate what would be the best ways to alert the Executives about corrupt practices in the public sector so as to avoid the perpetual trends of corruption and maladministration. What could be the best strategy in assisting the PSC in ensuring that government appoints competent and dedicated public servants in particular at the senior management level?

Mr Ntombela asked what could be the role of the PSC in minimising political interference in the administration as this affected service delivery? What would be the candidate's advice to the PSC to intensify the compliance rate in the disclosure of financial interests by the SMS. Why is the financial disclosure key in the public service in the first place?

Mr van de Westhuizen asked what causes the weaknesses or gaps in departments not implementing the recommendations of the PSC. How can Parliament assist in enforcing those recommendations? What would be the candidate’s strategy to ensure that those recommendations are enforceable?

Ms Mente-Nqweniso said it is a concern that the appointment heads of departments are currently done by the Executive Authority which often leads to instability when there is a reshuffling of ministers. How would the candidate be able to deal with this instability and ensure that there the officials are able to stay in a particular position for a lengthy period? Secondly, she asked if the candidate had ever been charged or involved in any corrupt practice. Finally, she asked what legislative framework the candidate would use to curb the perpetual problem of corruption in the public sector and also at local government.

Please refer to audio (part 2) for responses. Interview conducted from: 00:48-1:45

Candidate 5: Prof Patrick Fitzgerald

The Chairperson asked the candidate to briefly introduce himself and to elaborate on his skills, expertise and any particular experience relevant to the job he was seeking.

Ms Lesoma asked the candidate if the tool used to assess the commissioners is the right tool. What could be the best strategy in assisting the PSC in ensuring that government appoints competent and dedicated public servants in particular at the senior management level? What would be the best ways to alert the Executives about corrupt practices in the public sector so as to avoid the perpetual trends of corruption and maladministration?

The Chairperson added that it was indeed a concern that the appointment heads of departments are currently done by the Executive Authority which often leads to instability when there is a reshuffling of ministers. How would the candidate deal with this instability and ensure that the officials are able to stay in a particular position for a lengthy period.

Mr van de Westhuizen asked what causes the weaknesses or gaps in departments not implemented the recommendations of the PSC? How can Parliament assist in enforcing those recommendations? What would be the candidate's strategy to ensure that those recommendations are enforceable.

Ms Mente-Nqweniso asked if the candidate had ever been charged or involved in any corrupt practice. In addition, she asked about what legislative framework the candidate would use to curb the perpetual problem of corruption in the public sector and also at local governmen.

Please refer to audio (part 2) for responses. Interview conducted from: 2:08-3:27

The Chairperson indicated that the Committee would deliberate in a closed meeting on all the 5 shortlisted candidates that had been interviewed and the successful candidates would be announced in due course.

The meeting was adjourned.