Interns from the five branches of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) gathered at an emotional farewell ceremony on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, which some described as “bitter-sweet”.
The “sweet” part in the spectrum of emotions are the invaluable opportunities for workplace learning and personal growth that each graduate intern was exposed to since their acceptance into the DPSA Developmental Programmes in 2022. In particular, the 2022/24 cohort immensely received help from the DPSA’s “experiment” of taking an approach that sought to go beyond the provisions of conventional government internships and developmental programmes policies.
In addition to direct work experience and skills development, the interns were also exposed to off-the-script learning. This included such novel areas as design thinking, project management. The interns also participated in the Emerging Leadership in the Public Service (ELIPS) programme, which the DPSA Director-General, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi, is spearheading across the Public Service.
“The purpose [of the internships] is to give you a chance to enter a workplace and to get the experience that would help you in your career and journey,” said DPSA Deputy Director-General for Administration, Ms Linda Dludla, in a keynote address on behalf of the DG.
Director for Human Resources at the DPSA, Ms Baarata Moabi, provided an overview of the approach to developmental programme that the department implemented for the 2022/24 graduate internships intake. In her presentation, Ms Moabi also shared the reflections and feedback from the interns that were complimentary and constructive. These ranged from how the bureaucratic nature of government impedes the pace of work and learning opportunities to praises of how the graduate internship programme had been optimally structured to achieve its primary goals.
On the other hand, the “bitter” emotion is fear of the unknown and the challenge of putting into practice what each had learned over the past 24 months as they prepare to enter the job market. The mentors and senior managers who attended the ceremony, gave encouraging advise on the next phase of their work life.
“As you enter the next phase of your life, remember that every end is a new beginning, and you are about to enter a new beginning. So, I would like to say be strong and courageous and embrace life-long learning,” encouraged Deputy Director: Talent Management and Development, Ms Bontle Kgotse.
The internship farewell ceremony closed off with the issuing of internship testimonials, officiated by DDG Ms Dludla and Dr Salomon Hoogenraad Vermaak, the Chief Director of the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PA-EID-TAU) at the DPSA.
