The Department of Public Service and Administration responded to the appointment process of Mr Bonginkosi Success Madikizela as Special Adviser for Western Cape Premier, Mr Alan Winde.
In his Parliamentary reply, Public Service and Administration Acting Minister, Mr Thulas Nxesi, confirmed that the DPSA did receive a request for approval of compensation level IV on the appointment of Mr Madikizela as Special Adviser for the Western Cape Premier.
He said according to the CV submitted by the Premier, Mr Madikizela is in possession of Matric (Standard 10/Grade 12), obtained in 1996. However, upon assessment of the request from the Premier, the MPSA approved compensation level III for Mr Madikizela as Special Adviser to the Premier.
“This was in compliance with paragraph 11 of the Dispensation for the Appointment and Remuneration of Special Advisers (“the Dispensation”) which provide that “Executive Authorities must submit proposals/recommendations for the appointment of individual Special Advisers to the Minister for the Public Service and Administration for approval of the individual’s compensation level before the appointment/upgrade is effected.
“In terms of determining which compensation level should apply, paragraph 24 of the Dispensation requires that the Executive Authority considers the particular individual’s level of expertise and the stature in the particular field before submitting a request to the Minister for the Public Service and Administration,” he said.
Paragraph 25 of the Dispensation provides the following guidelines:
Compensation level I:
- The individual must enjoy noticeable national recognition as a competent expert.
- The complexity of advice to be rendered is comparable to that given by a Director (Senior Management Service Grade A) in the Public Service.
Compensation Level II:
- The individual must enjoy recognition as a competent expert at national level.
- The complexity of advice to be rendered is comparable to that given by a Chief Director (Senior Management Service Grade B) in the Public Service.
Compensation level III:
- The individual enjoys recognition as a competent expert at national and to some degree international level.
- The complexity of the advice to be given is comparable to that given by a Deputy Director-General (Senior Management Service Grade C) in the Public Service.
Compensation level IV:
- The individual enjoys recognition as a competent expert at national and international level.
- To appoint and retain persons with very high level skills and/or scarce skills.
- The complexity of advice to be rendered is comparable to that given by a Director-General (Senior Management Service Grade D) in the Public Service.
Based on paragraph 25, the Minister said that an assessment of Mr Madikizela’s CV indicated that he enjoys a sufficient degree of recognition as a competent expert at national and international level to justify the awarding of compensation level III.
“The Dispensation does not specify the level of skills that a Special Adviser should possess except in instances where compensation level IV is to be awarded. As indicated in paragraph 1 above, the Dispensation rather focuses on the degree of recognition as a competent expert that the individual enjoys as well as the complexity of the advice that he/she would render.
“It should also be noted that skills does not only relate to formal educational qualifications. It also includes skills and competencies gained through other means such as work experience. Based on his CV, Mr Madikizela is highly experienced at political and executive levels.
“The Dispensation does not specify that a Special Adviser must possess any specific educational or professional qualifications for the awarding of any of the compensation levels,” he said.
