Front left are DPSA Director-General, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi, Chief Financial Officer, Mr Masilo Makhura and Public Service and Administration Minister, Ms Noxolo Kiviet. Standing at the back from left are Mr Nyiko Mabunda, Acting Deputy Director-General: HRM&D and Chief of Staff, Ms Bukiwe Sangqu.

Through the Public Administration Ethics Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PAEIDTAU), the Department of Public Service and Administration provides technical assistance to provinces to implement lifestyle audits and improve discipline management in the public service.

Speaking at the National Council of Provinces Policy Debate on the Budget Vote of the Ministry for Public Service and Administration (MPSA), Minister Noxolo Kiviet said the provinces’ participation in lifestyle audits improved drastically from the previous financial year.

“In Jan 2021, 47 provincial departments across all nine provinces performed lifestyle audits, whereas, at the end of March 2023, 89 out of 103 provincial departments from all nine provinces submitted reports on lifestyle audits.

“KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape had a 100% compliance rate as all their departments conducted lifestyle audits.

“What is reassuring is that more provinces detected possible conflicts of interest and unexplained wealth than last year and referred such for investigation,” the Minister said.

According to the Minister, the following departments have referred cases for further investigation:

  • Western Cape Agriculture
  • Western Cape: Health and Wellness
  • Gauteng: Transport and Logistics
  • North-West: Health
  • KwaZulu – Natal: Health
  • Free State: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
  • Gauteng: Office of the Premier

The DPSA is the coordinator of the Fusion Centre, comprised of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks. This is where criminal investigations against public servants are prioritised for prompt finalisation.

In partnership with all 9 Offices of the Premiers, the department was able to assist in identifying employees involved in illegally obtaining the Social Relief of Distress Grants, which were meant to be a safety net for public servants.

Given that the country is moving towards the end of implementing the current Medium-Term Strategic Framework (2019-2024), in this current year, Minister Kiviet said they are prioritising the following:

  • Conducting a skills audit throughout the public service will include qualifications, skills, competencies, and the correct location of these.
  • Establishing a single register for disciplinary cases and processes across all spheres of government as part of entrenching accountability and streamlining discipline as per the Honourable President’s response to the Zondo Commission reports; and
  • Completing lifestyle audits for members of the Senior Management Service across the public service.

These three areas are critical to Priority 1 and the professionalisation of the public sector, said Minister Kiviet.

Labour Peace

The Minister said the government working with organised labour, remains committed to collective bargaining to manage labour relations in the public service.

“We are currently working together on the Minimum Service Level Agreements for essential services to ensure that South Africans can access critical services at all times,” she said.

The tabled budget is aimed at achieving the following key deliverables in the 2023/24 financial year:  

  • Introducing the Public Service Commission Amendment Bill, which seeks to empower the Commission to deliver on its mandate as intended by the drafters of the Constitution.
  • Releasing an Integrated Public Service Handbook to promote professionalisation standards, common interpretations and understanding as contemplated in Section 42 of the Public Service Act. This includes a Review of the SMS Handbook;
  • Reviewing the Public Service Regulations (PSR) of 2016 and all associated Directives and Circulars to reduce red tape and compliance overkill currently experienced by Departments.
  • Promoting efficiency by improving the politico-admin dichotomy.
  • Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across government to institutionalise processes for the sustainability of interventions. In this regard, departments are required to ensure that all identified Professionalisation interventions are institutionalised through SOPs.
  • Introducing Competency Assessments and Psychometric integrity testing as part of pre-entry requirements into the Public Service to promote meritocratic appointments and promotions.
  • Ensuring that the SONA priority for the Measures to protect Whistle Blowers are fully implemented; and
  • Working with Parliament, the MPSA will ensure that the Public Service Amendment and the Public Administration Management Amendment Bills, which, after extensive consultations with the public, NEDLAC and organised labour, are processed accordingly.