DPSA, PSC & NSG Budget Vote Reports

Meeting report

The Chairperson began the meeting by inquiring whether the Committee Secretariat could inform him when there would be a quorum, so the meeting could commence.

The Committee Secretary acknowledged and assured the Chairperson that he would inform him once a quorum was achieved, noting that there were currently five Members present, including a new Member, Ms P Xaba-Ntshaba (ANC), the Whip of the Committee. He mentioned he was attempting to contact the remaining Members.

Ms Xaba-Ntshaba greeted everyone, and the Chairperson welcomed her to the Committee, expressing enthusiasm about working with her and she suggested meeting to discuss working together.

The Chairperson agreed, proposing a face-to-face meeting once everyone had settled in.

Ms Xaba-Ntshaba noted that she had asked the Committee Secretary to call her for an introduction, which had not occurred. The Chairperson explained that the process had been urgent and quick due to recent elections and the adoption of reports, but he would arrange a meeting in Parliament over the next few days.

Ms Xaba-Ntshaba stated she was already at Parliament.

Apologies

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to their first online meeting and outlined the agenda, noting the importance of considering the reports due to upcoming mini-plenaries and budget votes.

 

Ms M Pholwane (ANC) mentioned she had written an apology in the group for attending another meeting simultaneously but was present now.

The Committee Secretariat informed the Chairperson that there was one apology from Mr M Matutu (MK), who lacked sufficient data bundles, and noted other Members were double-booked for meetings. He also mentioned the Content Advisor's absence due to other responsibilities, with Mr Mlungisi Biyela, Committee Researcher, taking over the report presentations.

The Chairperson acknowledged this and moved on to the next agenda item, asking the presenters to proceed with their reports.

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Report on the Budget Vote 07 – National School of Government

Mr Biyela presented the report on the National School of Government (NSG), focusing on its budget allocation, key observations, and recommendations.

The NSG has been allocated a budget of R218.7 million for the 2024/25 financial year, which represents a nominal decrease from the previous year's allocation. This decrease amounts to R12.2 million in real terms. The budget is divided between two main programmes: Administration (R110.8 million) and Public Sector Organisational and Staff Development (R107.9 million). Mr Biyela presented to the Committee that the NSG generates additional revenue through its Training Trading Account (TTA), contributing around R101 million annually for the past three years.

Key observations highlighted during the presentation included the NSG's role in developing the National Framework on Professionalisation of the public sector and the successful implementation of the Nyukela programme, aimed at senior and middle management levels to enhance professionalism and capacity within the public sector. The importance of conducting impact evaluations on training programmes, offering accredited courses, and adapting to a hybrid training model to attract more public servants nationwide were also emphasised.

The Committee's recommendations focused on developing a sustainable funding model for the NSG, ensuring adherence to the National Framework on Professionalisation across government departments, and expanding the Nyukela programme to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). It also includes making Executive Education compulsory for senior management and increasing the use of e-learning platforms to improve accessibility and cost-effectiveness of training programmes.

Mr Biyela outlined several key recommendations for the National School of Government (NSG) and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA).

National School of Government Recommendations

• Develop a comprehensive funding model to sustain income through the Training Trading Account (TTA), ensuring financial self-sufficiency.
• Reposition the NSG to align with the National Framework on Professionalisation of the public sector, expanding its services across various government sectors.
• Collaborate with the DPSA and PSA to enforce compliance with the National Framework, implementing a monitoring tool to assess its effectiveness.
• Conduct impact evaluations on training programs to enhance efficiency and application of knowledge, thereby improving overall performance.
• Increase awareness of the Nyukela programme among middle management, particularly targeting young professionals in both public and private sectors to foster interest in public service careers.
• Expand the use of e-learning platforms for training courses to modernise operations and reduce logistical costs.
• Make the Executive Education Programme mandatory for senior management, covering essential areas like project management, change management, and financial management to enhance competency and professionalism.

In conclusion, Mr Biyela stressed the NSG's crucial role in enhancing government officials' performance through education and training. He concluded by inviting Members to comment or ask questions, indicating that the recommendations would be completed before deliberations began.

https://pmg.org.za/tabled-committee-report/5869/

Report on the Budget Vote 11: Department of Public Service and Administration

Department of Public Service and Administration Observations and Recommendations

Observations (Section 10)

The observations from the Portfolio Committee on Budget Vote 11 highlight several key areas. Firstly, they commend the DPSA and the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) for their 2024-25 Annual Performance Plans (APPs), emphasising their alignment with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and efforts to innovate service delivery.

Legislative advancements include Bills transferring HR management powers and clarifying public sector conduct, currently under review by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Progress on lifestyle audits since 2019 is noted, with workshops ongoing to enforce guidelines across Departments by October 2023.

Efforts to professionalise the public sector, enhance digital transformation, and increase the employment of people with disabilities are also highlighted.

Challenges include backlogs in disciplinary processes and capacity constraints at CPSI hindering innovation projects. These observations underscore the Committee's focus on governance, efficiency, and inclusive service delivery in the public sector.

Recommendations (Section 11)

• Finalise Public Administration Management Act regulations to ensure comprehensive implementation, reporting progress by 31 March 2025.
• Enforce public service regulations uniformly across departments to standardise administrative processes and enhance governance.
• Continue implementing lifestyle audits across the public service to curb corruption and ensure compliance with guidelines.
• Develop strategies to expedite disciplinary cases and precautionary suspensions within the public service, considering centralisation for consistency and efficiency.
• Monitor and issue directives to reduce vacancy rates across national and provincial departments to improve service delivery.
• Develop and implement a psychometric integrity testing tool as part of professionalisation efforts to assess and maintain public servants' fitness throughout their careers.
• Enforce mandatory skills audits periodically to identify gaps and address training needs in line with job responsibilities.
• Convene a workshop with stakeholders to devise a strategy for funding compensation of employees across the public service to optimise operational budgets.
• Engage the Ministry in the Presidency to secure funding for the Integrated Financial Management System (FMS) to enhance financial and human resources management.
• Enhance stakeholder management at the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) to ensure effective replication and utilisation of innovative solutions across Government Departments.
• Support the CPSI in developing and implementing innovative solutions to digitise administrative processes, improving efficiency and service delivery.
• Capacitate the CPSI adequately to fulfil its role effectively within the shared services environment and drive innovation in public service delivery.

These recommendations aim to strengthen governance, professionalism, and service delivery within the public sector, aligning with broader national development objectives and frameworks.

https://pmg.org.za/tabled-committee-report/5868/

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Report on Budget Vote 12 – Public Service Commission

Mr Biyela, speaking on the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration's report on Budget Vote 12 for the Public Service Commission, highlighted key observations and findings.

• He noted the Committee's appreciation for the PSC’s annual performance plan for the 2024-25 financial year, emphasising its alignment with constitutional mandates outlined in section 196.
• The introduction of a new programme focused on coordinating provincial operations was acknowledged as crucial for enhancing efficiency across resident commissioners.
• Mr Biyela underscored the PSC's submission of legislative reforms to Parliament, aimed at establishing an independent secretariat to bolster its autonomy, amidst current dependencies under the Public Service Act.
• He stressed the need for increased funding to support these reforms, considering economic constraints and departmental budget cuts. The Committee expressed concern over gaps in their understanding of the PSC’s Bill content, requesting briefings to address this.
• The Committee also highlighted the PSC's role in overseeing the professionalisation. framework in Government Departments, calling for a robust monitoring framework linked to provinces to ensure effective implementation.
• Vacancies in key commissioner roles across provinces were noted, urging timely appointments to maintain operational effectiveness.
• Despite recent facility enhancements and media visibility efforts, capacity limitations at provincial PSC offices were identified as hindering service delivery.
• The Committee recommended ongoing consultations with provincial leaders, development of monitoring frameworks, and a strengthened communication strategy to enhance public engagement and accountability.

(Please see attached for full presentation)

Discussion

The Chairperson thanked Mr Biyela for the presentations and reminded Members to switch on their cameras, noting that the session was live on the parliamentary YouTube channel and parliamentary TV. He then opened the floor for input on the reports, acknowledging the hands raised by Members.

Ms L Potgieter (DA) expressed her apologies for not having her camera on due to being between devices, ensuring it will be operational next time. She raised a query regarding the NSG reports, noting the absence of the Nyukela programme in the recommendations despite its mention in the report body. She advocated for its inclusion, citing its relevance to issues faced by SOEs and municipal bodies nationwide. Moving on to the PSC report, she sought clarification on how participation in a specific committee compromises the Commission's independence, requesting further elaboration on this connection.

Ms S Gcilishe (EFF) apologised for her camera not being set up and promised to have it ready for the next meeting. She expressed concerns about the reports being presented for adoption, questioning their origins since the Committee had only met for an hour with institutions presenting to them the previous day. She was unsure if it was appropriate to support reports that the Committee did not have a chance to contribute to or process properly. Ms Gcilishe felt that the Committee Members were being reduced to "voting cattle," unable to properly interrogate and deliberate on the reports. She noted that during the previous day's presentations, all institutions had complained about budget cuts and questioned why they could not present actual budgets that would produce tangible results. She pointed out that if the Committee supported these budgets, it would just be supporting people going to the office to collect salaries, without addressing the lack of service delivery, which is not reflected in any of the reports. Ms Gcilishe emphasised that the focus should be on building state capacity and expressed her inability to support any of the presented reports in good conscience, as they did not seem to come from the Committee's contributions and did not aim to change living conditions.

The Chairperson thanked the Members for their input and then asked Mr Biyela if he also wanted to give an input.

Responses

Mr Biyela responded, suggesting that the Committee should concentrate on one report at a time to incorporate the Members' suggestions effectively, rather than discussing multiple reports simultaneously, which could cause confusion. He proposed starting with the NSG report, which was the last one discussed, and then moving on to the next report.

Addressing the concerns about the reports, Mr Biyela explained that departments table reports to Parliament, which are then sent to Committees and parliamentary staff for analysis. This process begins with the budget vote analysis, followed by departmental presentations to the Committee, during which Members raise their questions and concerns. These inputs are noted and incorporated into the report presented to the Members for deliberation and further steps. He acknowledged that the process had been rushed, with staff working late into the night to prepare the reports for the Members. Apologising on behalf of the staff, Mr Biyela noted that this rushed process was unprecedented and beyond their control, which also affected the Members' ability to thoroughly read and contemplate the reports.

Mr Biyela reiterated his suggestion to start with the NSG report and then proceed to the others to ensure that Members' concerns are addressed.

Further discussion

Ms Gcilishe emphasised that as new Members of the Committee, they needed to familiarise themselves with their commitments. She expressed concern about the process of waking up to reports presented shortly before meetings and questioned how they were expected to support such reports.

The Chairperson acknowledged Ms Gcilishe's concerns, stating that it was indeed a challenging situation for both the administration and the Committee Members. He noted that they were now in the Seventh Parliament dealing with reports from the previous term, which none of the current Members had been involved in formulating. Despite this, he stressed the importance of continuing government's business and suggested that the Committee carefully consider and deliberate on each report presented, followed by a vote on adoption. He then invited hands for further discussion.

Ms W Tikana-Gxotiwe (ANC) expressed gratitude to the Chairperson and fellow Members. She supported the proposal to address each report individually. She highlighted the importance of considering recent provincial briefings on departmental activities when discussing the reports, despite the challenges of dealing with work from the previous administration. She stressed the necessity of bringing the reports to Parliament for discussion and approval before funds could be utilised, suggested allocating time for thorough engagement on the issues, and requested another session to present additional recommendations, aligning with the Department's APPs in preparation for the upcoming financial year budget.

The Chairperson acknowledged the inputs from the Members and agreed with the need to proceed with the Committee's business. He expressed his intention to request an induction meeting from the administration. This meeting would focus on reviewing the Legacy Report of the previous Parliament's Committee, understanding upcoming legislation, familiarising with support staff, and establishing how the Committee should function. Emphasising that everyone was new and needed to understand their roles, he welcomed further contributions or queries from the Members.

Ms Potgieter acknowledged that her input was new and expressed readiness to proceed with discussing each report individually, including her specific query regarding the Public Service Commission.

The Chairperson agreed to start with the report on the Public Service Commission and invited Members to raise their hands for input on the matter.

Ms Potgieter began by recognising the complexity of the current situation and the impact on government's work and service delivery. She emphasised the importance of fully understanding and approving the bills before they reach plenary. Ms Potgieter sought clarity on the Committee's role in reviewing the Amendment Bill, particularly regarding their ability to influence changes or provide feedback after the public participation process. She highlighted the need for transparency in whether the Committee's role was merely advisory or if they could actively shape the Bill's outcomes through Parliament.

The Chairperson acknowledged Ms Gcilishe's concerns regarding the rushed nature of proceedings and the lack of briefing on a Bill before the National Assembly.

Ms Gcilishe expressed uncertainty about how to support the report without understanding the details of the Bill's implications and process.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Gcilishe for raising her concerns and indicated that he would refrain from commenting on the legislative process until the administration provided clarification. He then noted another Member had raised their hand and suggested proceeding in that order for further discussion.

Mr Z Kodwa (ANC) expressed concern about the unique challenges faced by the Committee in the current seventh administration, particularly due to the delayed formation of government. He highlighted the pressure on the parliamentary schedule and emphasised the importance of not obstructing government functions. Mr Kodwa acknowledged the necessity of adopting the reports to enable departments and agencies to operate effectively. He mentioned reviewing the departmental activities and suggested an induction session to familiarise the Committee with their roles in processing reports. Mr Kodwa concluded by stressing the need to accept the reality of the situation and expressed gratitude for understanding the Committee's unique circumstances.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Kodwa and agreed with the predicament they faced in the current situation. He emphasised that when the adoption of the report was proposed, Members would have the opportunity to decide whether to support it, considering the implications (to the entities) of their decision. The Chairperson noted that another Member wished to speak.

Ms Xaba-Ntshaba expressed concern about not receiving documents from the previous day's meeting in time for review and commenting. She explained her absence from the meeting due to prior Committee commitments and acknowledged the challenges of catching up. Despite this, she agreed with Mr Kodwa's sentiments that while they were working with reports from the sixth administration, they should not penalise departments. She voiced her support for his views and concluded her input by thanking the Chairperson and Mr Kodwa.

The Chairperson thanked Ms Xaba-Ntshaba for her input and acknowledged that one of the challenges faced as newcomers was ensuring the administration correctly sent documentation to the right email addresses and verified contact details. He mentioned receiving the calendar entry and documents himself, noting that the administration needed to ensure accuracy for all Members. The Chairperson assured Members that this issue would be addressed going forward.

He then invited any further inputs on the Public Service Commission (PSC) report or motions for adoption from the floor.

Adoption of the PSC Report

Mr Kodwa moved to adopt the report.

Mr T Mashele (ANC) seconded the motion to adopt the report.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Mashele for seconding the motion and confirmed that the report had been seconded. He then invited anyone else who wished to propose a different decision. After no further proposals were made, the Chairperson announced that the report had been adopted along with its recommendations.

He added that Members were allowed to express any discomfort with the adoption to ensure everyone felt their voice was heard.

Ms Gcilishe asked for her “discomfort” to be noted.

The Chairperson requested that the input from the EFF regarding their discomfort with the report be recorded. He thanked the administration for noting this.

He then proceeded to move on to the second report, specifically the Department of Public Service Administration report, and invited any inputs or deliberations from Members on this particular report.

Mr Biyela reassured Members regarding the Public Service Commission (PSC) Bill, explaining that it did not progress during the 6th Parliament and would be reintroduced in the 7th Parliament. This would allow Members to thoroughly scrutinise and provide input on the bill.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Biyela for his input and acknowledged that he should have initially called for this clarification. He highlighted that the 7th administration would indeed have the chance to engage in the entire legislative process concerning the PSC bill, which he considered positive news for Members. The Chairperson then invited further inputs or comments from Members on any issues raised.

Mr Biyela addressed concerns about the independence of the Public Service Commission (PSC), noting that a Member had raised the issue. He explained that the administrative office of the PSC currently operates under the Public Service Act, unlike other Chapter 9 institutions that have independent staff. According to Mr Biyela, this setup raises questions about the true independence of the PSC despite its designation as a Chapter 10 institution.

He assured Members that these issues would be open for scrutiny and discussion as the PSC bill progressed through Parliament.

Adoption of the Report on Public Service and Administration

The Chairperson thanked Mr Biyela for his input and then proceeded to the report of the Department of Public Service and Administration. He reiterated his call for any further input from Members before moving towards the adoption of the report.

Ms Potgieter then moved for the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr Kodwa.

The Chairperson confirmed that the report had been adopted along with its recommendations and announced that they would now proceed to the third report.

Adoption of Report on National School of Government

The Chairperson opened the floor for specific input or questions on the report concerning the Public Service Commission and the National School of Government. Ms Potgieter and Mr Kodwa indicated they wished to speak, so the Chairperson invited them to proceed in that order.

Ms Potgieter raised a question regarding the inclusion of training programs for state-owned and municipal-owned entities in the recommendations, as outlined in the body of the report.

Mr Kodwa noted some typographical errors in the report but expressed familiarity with its content and overall structure. He recommended that these errors be corrected upon review.

The Chairperson thanked both Members for their contributions and acknowledged the effort of the administration in preparing the reports. He requested the administration to address Ms Potgieter's recommendation and invited any objections from Members regarding its inclusion.

Mr Biyela responded positively, agreeing to incorporate the recommendation to include state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the training programs. He emphasised the importance of extending training opportunities to public sector entities, similar to those in the private sector.

The Chairperson then asked if any further input was needed before moving towards the adoption of the report. Seeing no further deliberation, he requested a proposal from the floor to accept the report and its recommendations.

Ms Potgieter moved for the adoption of the report.

Mr Kodwa seconded the motion.

Closing remarks

The Chairperson expressed gratitude for the adoption of the reports and their recommendations. He thanked the Members for attending, acknowledging that this meeting format was not typical and expressing a desire to facilitate more interactive sessions in the future. He reiterated his request to the administration for an induction session in two weeks' time, emphasising the importance of familiarising everyone with their roles and each other.

He concluded by inviting any closing remarks from Members, and upon receiving none, he thanked everyone once again, wished them a pleasant day, and closed the meeting, appreciating the efforts of the administration in preparing the reports.

Meeting adjourned.