SEIP Public Service Ethics Project Marks End of Project Cycle

Over a dozen people, among them public servants, representatives of the Canadian Government and a range of other stakeholders marked the end of the cycle of the Strengthening Ethics and Integrity Project (SEIP) last night, 12 February 2025, in Pretoria, in the  Gauteng Province of South Africa.

The SEIP was  initiated seven years ago as a partnership between the South African Government and Canada to help with the development of an ethics and integrity framework within the South African Public Service and beyond.

A significant milestone of the SEIP partnership was helping with the establishment of the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PAED-TAU) within the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in September 2020, which paved the way for the full implementation of section 15 (4) of the Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) from which PAED-TAU draws it legal mandate.

Reflecting on SEIP’s journey, the DPSA Chief Director of PAED-TAU, Dr Salomon Hoogenraad-Vermaak said the partnership between the two Governments has made a lasting  impact in the management of conflicts of interest, corruption-related risk assessment and discipline within the South African Public Service.

“This working model is unique in that it is highly adaptable and relies on an absolute partnership to address critical challenges in the value chain of ethics management, focusing on key issues that would make a long-lasting difference in the Public Service,” Dr Hoogenraad-Vermaak reflected.

Critically, Dr Hoogenraad-Vermaak added that the implementation model was designed not only to ensure the transfer of skills by the advisory and technical support partner, Cowater International but also to ensure the appropriateness and agility in the rollout of the SEIP’s implementation plans.

The remarks delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the DPSA, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi and the South African High Commissioner of Canada, Mr James Christoff, were similarly upbeat about the journey the SEIP had travelled thus far and the prospects for future cooperation.

“As we close this chapter, we must remember that this is not the end, but rather a transition to the next phase of government’s reforms. The work of strengthening ethics and integrity in the Public Sector is ongoing and Canada remains fully committed to supporting the South African Government to ensure that these reforms continue to be implemented and are sustained,” said the South African High Commissioner of Canada, Mr James Christoff, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Ms Shauna Flanagan, Head of Corporation, Global Affair Canada.

In her speech, delivered by the DPSA’s Ms Pleasure Masego, DG Makhasi commended PAED-TAU not only on its role as the locus of ethic and anti-corruption work in Government but also the pivotal role the unit continues to play in this space and structures, such as the National Priority Crimes Operational Committee and the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Committee.

DG Makhasi acknowledged the role played by SEIP and PAED-TAU in the development and launch last year of the groundbreaking “Policy on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Public Service World of Work,” among other highlights.