The Public Service Commission (PSC) stands as a critical institution in the vision of rebuilding public trust in a purpose-driven public service, says Public Service and Administration Minister, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi.

Delivering his Budget Vote Speech in Cape Town on Friday, the Minister said the PSC has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen the integrity, efficiency and responsiveness of public administration.

Minister Buthelezi said the protection of whistleblowers has also been a key priority for the PSC, as we acknowledge the vital role, they play in exposing corruption and safeguarding the public interest.

In response to the urgent need highlighted at the International Anti-Corruption Conference hosted by the Commission in December 2023, the PSC has developed a comprehensive Guide to support public servant whistleblowers.

The Commission has submitted recommendations to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to strengthen the overall whistleblower protection regime, empowering citizens to be active participants in the fight against malfeasance.

The Minister tabled the budget allocation for the 2024/25 financial year of the PSC, which amounts to R288.5 million.

The National School of Government

Inkosi Buthelezi said the National School Government (NSG) will strengthen the capabilities of public sector leaders in the areas of political leadership, economic governance, strategic oversight, and administrative excellence.

“This will equip them to address the unique challenges faced by a government of national unity, where diverse political ideologies and manifestos must be reconciled for the common good of the people.

“By empowering these public service leaders to be purpose-driven and accountable, the NSG plays a vital role in rebuilding public trust in our institutions.

“Moreover, the NSG’s agility and adaptability is important in responding to the evolving needs of the public service,” he said.

Later this month, the NSG, together with other partners will be hosting a conference under the theme of: Three Decades of Democracy in South Africa: A Critical Reflection and Social Dialogue towards Social, Economic and Global Transformation.”  

The conference will provide a platform for robust discussions on the role of a renewed, purpose-driven public service in driving the nation’s social, economic and global transformation agenda.

This financial year, the project training target is 50 500 learners and a revenue generation target of R101,8 million.

The open distance eLearning courses will also be developed or reviewed and included in the eLearning platform to increase learning to scale to public servants.

The NSG Budget

The budget allocated to the NSG is R218,7 million, of which R107,9 million is transferred to the NSG Training Trading Account.

The budget for employee compensation in the Vote amounts to R63 million, with goods and services amounting to R43,5 million.

The Training Trading Account is allocated a total of R213,7 million, of which R101,8 million (or 47% of the total budget) must be generated through revenue from training.