Principal of the NSG, Mr Busani Ngcaweni

The National School of Government (NSG) is targeting to raise its revenue to R101,3 million from course fees, says Public Service and Administration Minister, Ms Noxolo Kiviet, speaking at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Cape Town today.

Minister Kiviet said: “For the 2023/24 financial year, the NSG has been allocated a budget of R229, 018 million, of which R115 million is transferred to the Training Trading Account.

“The NSG raises almost half of its operating costs and is targeting to raise revenue to the amount of R101,3 million from course fees,” she said.

This budget, Minister Kiviet said, will ensure that the NSG can sustain the following capacity-building flagship programmes, which were rolled out and developed in the previous year:

  • The Local Government Leadership Development Programme (LGLDP), which is an accredited programme by the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) which nineteen (19) City of Johannesburg councillors successfully completed.
  • The Flagship Programme Ethical Leadership and Executive Oversight Programme which is a critical intervention programme that was piloted at Buffalo City in the Eastern Cape; Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality in the North-West; Mopani and Vhembe District Municipalities in the Limpopo Province. The Programme was also offered to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs. The purpose of the Programme is to help build a culture of ethical leadership in government, modelled by the ethical conduct of Members of the Executive;
  • In collaboration with the Gauteng COGTA, the NSG has completed the course called the District Development Model: Joint Decision Making and Implementation through the District Development Model, for which a pilot is being organised, and will be replicated across the country; and
  • For this financial year, we are further advocating for the attendance of the new Local Government Executive Leadership Programme for Mayors and the Executive Induction Programme: Oversight of Financial Management and Supply Chain Management.

The training programmes provided by the NSG now target members of boards of state-owned entities, public representatives, members of the executive and traditional leaders to undertake the much-required capacity building.

The NSG has solidified its footprint with partnerships that include the World Economic Forum, the European Union, the Civil Service College in Singapore, the China Africa Institute, and the National School of Public Administration in Brazil.

This year, the NSG is collaborating with the Kenya School of Government (KSG) to bring together participants from these two countries.

The first leg of the 2023 Programme took place on 16-21 April 2023 in South Africa, and the second leg will take place on 21-27 May 2023 in Kenya.

Minister Kiviet said this collaboration marks the initial implementation of the Cooperation between the NSG and the KSG, in the context of building stronger Kenya–South Africa bilateral relations based on shared values and development pursuits.

While each of the nine provinces has its unique challenges and requires in-depth contextualisation, Minister Kiviet said the following were introduced at Provincial and Local Government in line with the professionalisation agenda:

  • Induction and Onboarding: Since this is a compulsory programme for all new employees from salary levels 1 to 16 in the public service, 4 540 participants were inducted and orientated across all provinces. The NSG intervened and paid specific attention and focus to the Health Sector in KZN, Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
  • Youth Development: The NSG implemented a programme designed to prepare 2 038 unemployed graduates to access employment opportunities in the Public Service, known as the Breaking Barriers to entry into the public service.
  • Frontline Service Delivery: Training 503 employees across all provinces in Citizen Centred Service Delivery during the last financial year.
  • Financial Management: As part of continuous development, focusing on Bid Committees (PFMA and MFMA) for provincial officials and municipalities, including training 556 officials during 2022/2023. In collaboration with the City of Cape Town, training 100 officials on Bid Committees (MFMA) has led to considerable progress as per their previous audit findings.
  • Art of Facilitation for Socio-Economic Development: capacitated Traditional Leaders through The Art of Facilitating Socio-Economic Development Programme in the KZN and Eastern Cape Provinces. Hundred and Fifty (150) Traditional leaders were trained to build an active citizenry.