Public Service Commission Progress Report on Public Service Delivery: briefing
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Meeting report
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE
14 November 2006
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PROGRESS REPORT ON PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY: BRIEFING
Chairperson: Mr S Shiceka (ANC, Gauteng)
Documents Handed Out:
Public Service
Commission presentation
Evaluation of Service Standards in the Public Service [available at http://www.psc.gov.za]
SUMMARY
The Public Service Commission informed the Committee that it had noticed
commendable progress by the public service on service delivery. It had
conducted various studies in order to determine whether or not the Batho Pele Principles were
adhered to in the public service. The Commission invited the Committee to help
in the provision of technical oversight.
The discussions mainly focused on the recruitment process with Members feeling
that unsuccessful candidates should be able to receive answers why their
applications had failed. Members also raised the question
whether the Batho Pele
principles are really implemented by public servants, and discussed ways in
which public servants can be held accountable for not adhering to the
principles.
MINUTES
Public
Service Commission (PSC) presentation
The PSC was represented
by Mr J Ernstien
(Commissioner), Professor S Sangweni (Chairperson),
Ms O Ramsingh (Director General), Mr
N Maharaj (Commissioner), Mr
M Diphofa (Deputy Director General: Monitoring and
Evaluation) and Ms K Mokgalong (Commissioner).
Prof Sangweni begun by providing
insight into the background of the PSC and how the PSC complies with the Public
Service Act. He stated that through its oversight and support work the
PSC has noted the commendable progress made by the public service with regard
to compliance with the Public Service Act. Even though progress has been made,
the PSC has also made certain observations about areas in the public service
that still need attention.
Mr Diphofa
stated that in terms of the selection and recruitment process in the public
service, a fair and objective selection process takes place in order to
determine the best candidate for the post. However the PSC has received a
number of complaints regarding perceived unfairness in the selection process.
Mr Diphofa also stated that
the PSC had conducted various studies in order to determine whether or not the Batho Pele Principles are adhered
to in the public service. The studies found that progress has been made in
certain areas of public service when it comes to adhering to the Batho Pele principles. However
there are still members of the public who experience ill treatment at the hands
of public servants.
In terms of oversight, Mr Diphofa stated that the PSC
believes that it would be helpful to view its mandate as ‘technical oversight’
and that of the Select Committee as political oversight. He stated further that
political oversight involves, among others, holding the Executive accountable
for effective delivery of government’s programmes.
Discussion
The Chair thanked the Commission for their presentation and stated that
public service is a key area of service delivery in local government. If the
public service is not functioning correctly, then there is a huge problem. Therefore there has to be a way of ensuring
that government is seen to be fair to everyone in terms of citizen
satisfaction.
Mr J Le Roux (DA) [Eastern Cape] questioned the
selection and recruitment process and asked the PSC to elaborate on how it
ensured that the best candidate is selected.
Mr Maharaj stated that when
it comes to recruitment people are screened in order to see if they meet the
minimum requirements, and whether or not they are competent enough to fill the
posts. Once it is determined that all the minimum requirements are met,
affirmative action is applied.
The Chair questioned the vacancy rate in the public service. He asked about the
selection process and stated that in instances where the best candidate is not
selected, it should be possible for the unsuccessful candidate to request information
on reasons why he or she was unsuccessful.
Ms Ramsingh said that the PSC had not yet done a
study on the vacancies; however they are aware that there are a large number of
vacant posts. However it is important to note that there is insufficient capacity
in the public service to handle the filling of the vacant posts. In terms of
unsuccessful candidates, the Constitution states that where administrative
decisions are taken, the unsuccessful individual has every right to question
the reasons for not being appointed.
Mr K Mokwena (ANC) [Limpopo] asked the PSC to elaborate on how they feel about
the outsourcing of recruitment by the various departments. It was unacceptable
for the government to spend R5 million on the outsourcing of recruitment, and
it should be reviewed.
Ms Mokgalong assured Mr
Mokwena that the recruitment agency just assisted
with the selection and the short-listing of candidates. They did not perform
interviews.
Mr Le Roux stated that the private sector uses
private firms all the time for recruitment. R5 million may sound like a lot of
money, but the principle of outsourcing recruitment is sound.
Mr N Mack (ANC) [Western Cape] said that there should
be a way in which the Batho Pele
principles could be brought into the performance agreements.
Mr Dipofa stated that
senior managers are required to include the principles in performance
agreements. The agreements must also be accompanied by a list of the management
criteria.
Mr D Worth (DA, Mpumalanga)
questioned the performance agreements and stated that the PSC needed to find a
better way of measuring performance. He said there has to be a way of measuring
performance between provinces and that the PSC should investigate the issue of
acting heads of departments, as certain departments had acting heads for long
periods of time. They did not have the authority to sign performance
agreements.
Ms Ramsingh argued that personnel should act in a
position for a maximum of 12 months; however if someone acts for more than 10
months then immediate action should be taken.
The Chair stated that the Department of Home Affairs is experiencing massive
problems. The PSC should find a way of ensuring that performance agreements
have been signed in the department, and consult with the department at lower
levels. The Chair asked the PSC to give
clarity on the issue of disciplining public servants, and how long it should
take before a suspended official is charged.
Ms Ramsingh stated that the Home Affairs issue was
too big to deal with in one meeting. The Department is faced with serious
challenges, mainly leadership and management issues. The Department is also
faced with human resource issues, and the need for upgraded IT systems. The
only way forward for Home Affairs was to appoint a good administrator at its
helm. The disciplinary code stated that an investigation should take no more
than 30 days, and if the investigation is not completed within 30 days, the
suspension has to be reviewed.
Mr Mokwena stated because
public servants did not adhere to the Batho Pele principles many South Africans are suffering. He asked
the PSC to elaborate on what is being done to motivate officials.
Prof Sangweni argued that the issue of leadership is
a key factor when it comes to adhering to the principles. When it comes to the
reporting of officials, it is found that many senior officials cover each
other. Therefore it is important to find a way of ensuring that there is
empowerment amongst officials to stamp out corruption.
Ms F Nyanda (ANC) [Mpumalanga]
felt that Home Affairs did not adhere to the Batho Pele principles, and asked the PSC to give clarity on what
is being done to stamp out corruption in the department.
Prof Sangweni stated that there is a task team led by
Ms Ramsingh that will be investigating ways in which
the Department of Home Affairs can be turned around. The PSC is awaiting the
outcome and will engage with the Committee once the results of the
investigation become available. However it is important to note that it would
be a long time before the department is fully turned around.
Mr Ernstien argued that
departments face many different problems, and these could not be addressed in a
single meeting. Therefore more meetings are needed between the Committee and
the PSC so that results can be achieved faster.
Mr Maharaj stated that when
it comes to service delivery by public servants, there has to be inspections
that would ensure that front line service delivery officials adhere to the Batho Pele principles. However the inspections will only provide
more reports and that is the full extent of what the PSC can do. The Committee
on the other hand is empowered to make a difference. Complaints and grievances
should not be addressed to the PSC, but to the Minister of a particular
department.
The Chair acknowledged the points made by Mr Maharaj, and agreed that it was important for the Committee
and the PSC to work together in order to achieve a common goal. Public servants
from the various provinces should be also be brought
on board at the next meeting.
Mr Le Roux felt that there has to be input from the
public, as the public does not know what to do when they receive poor service.
Prof Sangweni said that under the Promotion of Public
Administration provisions of the Public Service Act, the public is able to
engage with public service standards.
The Chair asked the PSC to provide give clarity on the issues the Committee
should focus on when it comes to reporting to the various departments.
Mr Le Roux said the Committee could not just complain
to departments without facts. The PSC however has the power to conduct the
necessary investigations and provide reports. Therefore Members can use the
reports and take them to the various departments to notify them of their
shortcomings.
Mr Mack suggested that the Committee should perform
their own front line inspections, instead of meeting with senior managers.
The Chair stated that the public should be informed on how long a particular
service would take to be provided. If it takes longer than stated, the public
should be informed of the reasons for the delay. If this did not happen, the
matter should be followed up.
The meeting was adjourned.
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