In a recent webinar on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi, the Director-General of Public Service and Administration, emphasized the need for the forthcoming Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) strategy to revolutionize the public service.
She stressed that the strategy should directly address the challenges faced by the public service and bring innovation to the forefront.
Ms Makhasi highlighted the importance of synergy and interconnectedness in the strategy, ensuring that it speaks directly to the needs of the public service.
She emphasized the need for a workable and implementable product, that is simplified for easy reading and can be effectively communicated to attract and engage stakeholders.
The HRM&D strategy aims to integrate the management of the entire HR value chain within the public service.
It seeks to align regulations, policies, norms, and standards related to HR, reduce reporting burdens, improve employee health and wellness, enhance the return on investment from HR development, and strengthen employee and performance management within the public service.
The strategy also aims to position the public service as an employer of choice, fully implementing the professionalization framework and preparing for the Future of Work.
Ms Makhasi acknowledged the extensive data and content collected over the past year and emphasized the need to package it into a strategy with a clear implementation plan.
She stressed the importance of accountability, monitoring, and evaluation in ensuring successful implementation and progress tracking.
Ms Makhasi highlighted the need for an HRDM business partnering model, shifting HR units’ focus to strategic matters, and promoting technology enablement tailored to the public service.
The Director-General emphasized the importance of appointing individuals with the right skills and expertise to specialist roles and avoiding the placement of purely managerial or coordinating personnel.
She expressed the commitment of the DPSA to support departments in their specific requirements and encouraged the sharing of best practices within the public service.
She also underscored the significance of leveraging existing baseline information in the development of the strategy.
“As the public service looks forward to the implementation of the HRMD strategy, the focus on innovation, addressing challenges, and strategic alignment is expected to bring about positive transformations in the sector,” said Director General Makhasi.
