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LETTER FROM BATHO PELE HOUSE

The Public Service should

focus on problem-solving

Lately, South Africans from all walks of life One of the deep-rooted challenges that crucial to the rejuvenation of the Public
and across ideological lines are asking continues to bedevil the Public Service Service, and not only in age representivity.
deep and hard questions about the at all levels is the lack of problem-solving It is also a way of enthusing the Public
Public Service, and justifiably so. They skills, despite the range of legal, policy Service and introducing new ideas for
want to know whether South Africa can and regulatory tools that make this solving old problems, especially as the
afford the current public service salary possible. The ability to solve problems, world hurtles towards the much vaunted
bill, given the unfavourable economic legally, is ever more urgent, given the fourth industrial revolution.
climate. They are asking why the sheer complex and ever-shifting social settings
size of the Public Service – numbering of the Public Service. The Public Service Hackathon campaign,
nearly 1,5 million people, appears not which was launched in September as
to have a corresponding impact on the Not only does the Public Service part of Public Service Month, is yet
quality of life of many South Africans? contend with chasing fast-moving another initiative that seeks to place
service delivery targets, it also has to young people at the centre of helping
There are as many answers to these respond to the changed demographic to resolve the many challenges that
many questions as there are millions of dynamics. For example, the capabilities still confront our nation. Inspired by the
people who are concerned about the of service delivery points are increasingly desire to ensure that the Public Service
state of the Public Service. And each of under strain in urban centres, notably ‘moves with the times’, the Hackathon
the answers has a ring of truth to it. Yet, around the cities of Cape Town and is a problem-solving exercise aimed
is it possible that we are looking at the Johannesburg, due to rapid immigration. at finding solutions to service delivery
shortcomings of the public service from There are also the pressing current challenges. It will bring young people
the wrong end of the telescope? and future needs of a growing youth together in a digital space with the task
population who face vulnerabilities from of identifying gaps and challenges in
There is no doubt that size does indeed several fronts. How the Public Service the government’s service delivery model
matter. The number of public servants serves the youth is as important as what and proposing innovative solutions that
that government employs as pitted kind of services are relevant to the current government can deploy to confront
against service delivery outcomes is and future needs of young people. these challenges. 
a cause for concern. However, any
suggestion that the complaints against Launched in July this year, the Public Minister for Public Service and
the Public Service could be eliminated Service Graduate Recruitment Scheme Administration, Ms Ayanda Dlodlo,
by merely cutting the fat and reducing is one of many ways in which government MP
personnel costs does not begin to get to is responding to the pressing challenge
the root of the problem, which runs deep. of youth unemployment. The scheme is

Volume 12 No. 1 of 2018 | SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW 3