Question NW2161 to the Minister of Public Service and Administration
29 August 2022 - NW2161
Gondwe, Dr M to ask the Minister of Public Service and Administration
(1) By what date does he envisage will a Head of Administration for the Public Service likely be appointed to manage the career incidents of (a) Heads of Department (HODs) and (b) Director-Generals (DGs); (2) whether the specified appointment will be made before and/or after the implementation of the policy proposal to increase the term of office for HODs and DGs from the existing 5 years to 10 years, subject to performance; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The role of a Head of the Public Service is being provided for in legislative amendments to the Public Service Act, 1994. The draft Public Service Amendment Bill envisages this role to be undertaken by the Director-General in the Presidency to, amongst others, support the President in managing the appointment and career incidents of national heads of department. The processing of the Public Service Amendment Bill is underway and it is anticipated that the Bill will be submitted to Parliament in the 2022/2023 financial year. As an interim measure, the Director-General in the Presidency has already been tasked with this role and the support in this regard has been provided for in the Presidency.
2. The research and the policy development to inform the tenure of heads of department is still underway as part of the project on the professionalization of the Public Service. Once completed, the necessary amendments will be factored in the further amendment to the Public Service Act.
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