Public Service Commission vacancies: Interview of candidates

Public Service and Administration

13 November 2008
Chairperson: Ms M Matsomela (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee continued with its interviews of four candidates from the short list of candidates for the vacancies on the Public Service Commission. The four candidates were Mr D van Wyk, Mr G Bogatsu, Mr M Malahlela and Ms J Mxakato Diseko. The questions asked by Members are listed in this report, and the full responses may be heard on the attached audio recording. Each of the candidates was asked to give a brief introduction to themselves. The interviewing panel then asked for an indication of what they would see as the functions of the Public Service Commission, whether they were familiar with the batho pele principles and how they understood them, what the candidates would regard as their strong and weak points, what the candidates would do, if appointed, to combat corruption within the public service, whether they thought that the Public Service Commission had been delivering sufficiently on its mandate, if they had an idea of whether and how affirmative action was being implemented within the public service, and what was their understanding of it, what legislation they saw as governing the public service and whether they were aware of changes that had been made to the public service as a result of the Commission’s recommendations. They were also asked to comment upon the fact that the Public Service Commission had the power only to recommend and not to enforce, and how its role in dispute resolution was seen.

Meeting report

Public Service Commission vacancy: Interview of candidates
Each of the candidates was firstly asked to give a brief introduction to themselves. Following this they were asked a number of questions. The detailed responses may be heard on the attached audio recording.

Interview: Mr D van Wyk
Mr Van Wyk said that he was born in Oudtshoorn, and completed his studies there to become a teacher. He then taught at a number of schools, and also acted as principal at two schools: Touwsrivier and Tafelsig. During this time he became involved  in trade unions. In 1996 he resigned from teaching and joined the trade union on a full time basis. He had always had an interest in working people. He was qualified with a diploma in education, and then later completed a BA at University of the Western Cape (UWC). He had also enrolled at University of Cape Town (UCT) for the post graduate diploma in employment law and security, and had attended a financial development programme. He was currently a full time employee affiliated with Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and was a councilor on the Bargaining Council. He had served on the Exco of the National and Provincial structures. He noted that his work as a General Secretary was similar to the functions performed by a Chief Executive Officer and he had therefore gained managerial experience. He was divorced, and had two children, who were involved in journalism and engineering. His hobbies were jazz music and sports.

Questions
The Chairperson asked what he understood to be the functions of the Public Service Commission (PSC)

Mr Julies asked if the candidate was familiar with the Batho Pele principles.

Mr Julies asked the candidate what he thought were his strong and weak points.

Ms P Tshwete (ANC) asked what Mr van Wyk would do about corruption, if he were to be appointed. 

Ms Tshwete asked if Mr van Wyk was familiar with the Public Service Act.

The Chairperson asked whether Mr van Wyk believed, in light of his interaction with or knowledge of the Public Service Commission, whether he thought it was delivering sufficiently on its mandate, and whether he had observed any shortcomings.

Ms Tshwete asked whether Mr van Wyk believed that Affirmative Action was being implemented and how he understood this. 

The Chairperson asked what other laws the candidate was aware of that governed the public service.

The Chairperson asked whether Mr van Wyk was aware of any changes that had taken place in the public service as a direct result of work done by the Public Service Commission.

The Chairperson asked whether Mr van Wyk would regard the fact that the PSC could only make recommendations, and not enforce its findings, as a strength or a weakness.

 Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) asked what Mr van Wyk’s understanding would be of the PSC in dispute resolution.

The Chairperson asked the candidate what he would be passionate about in the context of the PSC, and how he would pursue that passion if he were to be appointed.

The candidate asked when the appointment was likely to be made.

Interview: Mr G Bogatsu
Mr Bogatsu noted that he had begun his career as a teacher preparing materials for study. He had then moved to Potchefstroom , and worked there as a teacher for six months. He had gained confidence in facing a large audience and was able to put across his viewpoint clearly and articulately. He had then been employed by the Department of Home Affairs in Potchefstroom, dealing with registration of births, marriages and deaths. He had also assisted as an interpretor, and with the payment of maintenance. During this time he became aware of the Batho Pele principles. He had then moved from Department of Home Affairs to the Department of Education, starting as a personnel officer and being promoted to Chief Personnel Officer, and where he acquired management skills. He then moved to Department of Health, where he was promoted to the post of Assistant Director. He had dealt there with induction and training of employees and was responsible for administration of the district helth office, including provisioning, human resources, finances and other related services. In 1999 this was adjudged the best health structure. From there, he was recruited to the housing department, as an executive assistant in the office of the Director General. He managed the finances and personnel, liaised with the Minister and so on. He was then recruited by the North West Legislature, as a Director for Committees, and he headed the research and information services. He had gained experience in the legislatures similar to the Public Service, including investigations, monitoring and evaluations of the strategy and budgets of the departments, and public participation of members.

Questions
The Chairperson asked how Mr Bogatsu understood the functions of the PSC.

Ms Tshwete asked if he was familiar with the PSC Act.

Ms Tshwete noted that Mr Bogatsu had worked for a number of departments and asked whether he had switched from one to another because of his skills.

Ms Tshwete asked if Mr Bogatsu could say, from his experience, whether departments were implementing affirmative action, and what his understanding was of this.

Ms Tshwete asked how Mr Bogatsu, if appointed, would correct any imbalances and asked what the role of the PSC should be in this regard.

Mr Gcwabaza noted that the candidate had not spoken about disability in the context of affirmative action, and asked what was his stance on that, and whether he thought that the PSC had achieved successes on this issue.

The Chairperson asked which reports and research by the PSC had made a positive difference to the public service.

The Chairperson asked what the candidate saw as his special strengths that would enable him to make a difference in the PSC.

The Chairperson noted that Mr Bogatsu was interested in innovation, and asked him to give some examples of what he might have introduced to his previous workplaces. 

The Chairperson asked Mr Bogatsu what he saw as the major challenge facing the PSC and how this could be addressed.

The Chairperson asked whether Mr van Wyk would regard the fact that the PSC could only make recommendations, and not enforce its findings, as a strength or a weakness.

Interview: Mr J Malahlela
Mr Mahlahlela noted that he had mixed feelings about talking of himself in front of his colleagues in Parliament. He noted that he had studied law and been admitted as an advocate in Pretoria, in 2003. Prior to that he had worked at a junior level as a Judge’s associate in the Labour Court. This had exposed him to very interesting matters, and he was privileged to work with the judicial services that had a serious impact upon South Africans, and to work with judges of high calbre. He had entered Parliament in 2002. His responsibility in the areas of public service committees was an indication of his commitment to the public service.

Questions
The Chairperson asked what his understanding was of the functions of the PSC.

The Chairperson asked Mr Malahlela to give his assessment of the performance of the PSC, and to identify any shortcomings in the way in which it performed its duties. 

The Chairperson asked whether Mr van Wyk would regard the fact that the PSC could only make recommendations, and not enforce its findings, as a strength or a weakness.

Mr R Julies asked what Mr Malahlela thought that was the Committee’s role in executing the the recommendations by the PSC.

Ms Tshwete pointed out that the media had criticised the corruption in the public service – which was correct since in Eastern Cape and Kwazulu Natal millions of rand had gone missing. She asked how, if Mr Malahlela were to be appointed, he would address this problem.

Ms Tshwete noted that Mr Malahlela would have noted that the officials representing the department were mostly male, with few females and disabled persons. She asked what Mr Malahlela’s views were on affirmative action and how it could be better implemented.

Ms Tshwete asked what the biggest challenge facing the PSC was, in relation to affirmative action and corruption.

Mr Gcwabaza asked how the Mr Malahlela would rate dispute resolution and what improvement he would like to see taken by the PSC.

The Chairperson asked what Mr Malahlela felt were his particular capabilities and what he was passionate about that would make him the best candidate.

Interview: Ms J Mxakato Diseko
Ms Mxakato-Diseko noted that she had obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies from Oxford University, BA Honours and Masters Degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University, Masters Degree in International Relations from Warwick University, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Politics from Oxford University. She noted that she had spent the better part of her career abroad. Before joining the Public Service Commission in  January 2004, she was Chairperson of the BTT/ International Trade Commission, a position she assumed after spending a year as Vice Chairperson of the Board of the National Nuclear Regulator Authority. Other positions that she held throughout her career included  South African Ambassador / Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, South African Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency; South African Permanent Representative to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation, South African Ambassador to Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Republic of Austria, Chairperson of the Working Group of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Funding for Nuclear Technical Cooperation, Chief Director for Policy Planning at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Head of the African National Congress (ANC) mission in Sweden, and Chairperson of the ANC for the UK and Ireland. She said that the PSC had done much good work over the past few years, and that the implementation of some of the recommendations by the PSC had ensured that an effective public service could be delivered.

Questions

Ms Matsomela asked the candidate to give her understanding of what the functions of the Public Service Commission (PSC) entailed.

Mr Julies asked whether Ms Diseko was familiar with the Batho Pele Principals.

Mr Julies asked the candidates to list their weak and strong points.

Ms Tshwete asked what the candidate would do to combat corruption within the public service.

Ms Tswete asked the candidate whether the PSC had sufficiently been delivering on its mandate.

Ms Tshwete asked whether the candidate had an idea of whether Affirmative Action was implemented within the public service and what they understood it to be.

Ms Matsomela asked whether the candidate was aware of any other laws that governed the public service.

Ms Matsolemal asked whether the candidate was aware of any changes that had been made to the public service as a result of PSC recommendations.

Ms Matsomela asked whether the PSC had been at any disadvantage as it could only make recommendations and not enforce them.

The meeting was adjourned.

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