Question NW4073 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
30 November 2015 - NW4073
Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1)Whether, with reference to his speech introducing the debate on the budget vote for the 2015-16 financial year for his department, the promised Technical Assistance Unit for Ethics, Integrity and Discipline Management (a) has been constituted and (b) is operational; if not, (i) why not and (ii) when the unit will be operational; if so, (aa) when was the unit launched, (bb) how is the unit constituted and (cc) what is the envisaged mandate of the unit; (2) whether, with reference to the specified speech, the promised Office of Standards and Compliance for Minimum Norms and Standards for Public Administration (a) has been constituted and (b) is operational; if not, (i) why not and (ii) when will the unit be operational; if so, (aa) when was the unit launched, (bb) how is the unit constituted and (cc) what is the envisaged mandate of the unit?
Reply:
(1) and (2) The establishment and functioning of the Regulatory Institutions such as Technical Assistance Unit for Ethics, Integrity and Discipline Management, forms part of the implementation of the Public Administration Management Act (PAMA), 2014 of which the Department of Public Service and Administration is currently putting mechanisms in place, such as the Regulations to operationalize.
Preparatory work towards the establishment of the Unit has started. Such work includes the appointment of an inter-disciplinary team, initiating a process to conduct a feasibility study which will include the development of a business model that provides for a service delivery model; funding arrangement for the Unit and the identification of relevant legislation that is likely to impact on the establishment of the Unit. All of this information will also inform the organisational form of the Unit. Once established, the Unit will perform amongst others, the following functions:
- Provide technical assistance and support to institutions in all spheres of government regarding the management of ethics, integrity and disciplinary matters relating to misconduct in the public administration;
- Develop the norms and standards on integrity, ethics, conduct and discipline in the public administration;
- Build capacity within institutions to initiate and institute disciplinary proceedings into misconduct;
- Strengthen government oversight of ethics, integrity and discipline, and where necessary, in cases where systemic weaknesses are identified, to intervene;
- Promote and enhance good ethics and integrity within the public administration; and
- Cooperate with other institutions and organs of state to fulfil its functions.