The voluntary and innovative instrument of the African Union (AU)-the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Governance Support Programme is more vibrant in KwaZulu-Natal in terms of value-driven service delivery to the poorest of the poor.
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Acting Director-General, Mr Willie Vukela said the Managing Change and Public Value Governance Programme (PVG) is a clear demonstration on how dedicated public servants can go an extra mile in accelerating the wide range of essential quality services to citizens especially those in the rural areas.
Delivering his keynote address at the certificate handover ceremony of the inaugural cohort of the PVG programme in KwaZulu-Natal held at the Maritime School of Excellence in Durban on Friday, Mr Vukela said at the heart of this transformation lies the progressive Public Value Governance – a framework that challenges the public sector to rethink how they design policies, deliver services, and engage citizens.
“Given the importance of the task of building a capable, ethical and developmental state, this PVG programme and its resultant deployment of senior managers to support specific areas in local government, exemplifies how dedicated public servants can go beyond the normal call of their duties…
“The ethos of Batho Pele (Putting People first) principles finds its expression in the Constitution which dictates that public administration must be accountable, while transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information.
“As we embark on the professionalisation of the public administration, the PVG programme ensures that we have public servants who are real change agents, enablers and facilitators of integrated good governance and public administration as we march forward towards Vision 2030,” he said.
According to Mr Vukela, this is a special cohort of KwaZulu-Natal provincial government public servants who have volunteered their time to support the efforts of Msunduzi local municipality to make ‘the City of Choice’ a cleaner, tidy and safer City.
He described the deployment as a form of Khaedu (a tshivendaword loosely translated as challenge) with a continental outlook which he is certain that Msunduzi local municipality is proud to be part of, given its link to South Africa’s upcoming Championing of the APRM Governance Support Programme.
Mr Vukela used the platform to announce that the special cohort are now duly deployed in Pietermaritzburg on a part-time basis from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, adding that several meetings have been held between the special cohort and management of Msunduzi local municipality, to agree on specific areas of support and collaboration.
Under the theme of, “Clean and Safe City”, these are the focus areas in which support and collaboration will take place, namely:
- Beautification of public spaces,
- Improving safety of municipal infrastructure,
- Safe City collaboration with Municipal Security Personnel and South African
Police Services.
As part of the Pietermaritzburg Vision 2040, the Acting DG said these focus areas will be managed under the following projects:
- Urban Development Indaba
- Service Delivery Top-Up Service
- Freedom Square Revitalisation
- City Entrances
- Maritzburg Mall Upgrade
- Timber Street Revitalisation
- Repurposing Voortrekker Graveyard/ Chief Albert Luthuli Cemetries.
Acting Deputy Director-General for Government Service Access Improvement (GSAI), Dr Patrick Sokhela said the purpose of the programme is to serve as the Continental PVG programme for senior managers meant to institutionalise the African Peer Review Mechanism-Open Government Partnership principles.
He said the Constitution’s Bill of Rights enshrines socio-economic rights such as basic services that encourage the state to work harder to ensure that citizens irrespective of their class enjoy all the rights.
“We must ensure that the wonderful policies developed by our government are translated into programmes that are improving the quality of life of our people.
“With the PVG programme, we are properly promoting citizen-centred governance, that prioritises the marginalised groups such as women, people with disabilities and the youth. With the PVG cohorts, working together as the national and the provincial sphere of government in KwaZulu-Natal, we are building a resilient governance systems capable of resolving the day-to-day challenges of citizens,” he said.
On behalf of the APRM Continental Secretariat, Legal Counsel, Majane Maile said: “effective governance requires institutions that are accountable, transparent, inclusive and responsive to the needs and aspirations of citizens.
“Municipalities hold a unique and indispensable role; they can help ensure that continental commitments are translated into action and deliver meaningful results for the people they serve.”
PVG cohort leader, Ms Sanelisiwe Mnyandu, Deputy Director: Human Resource Planning at the KwaZulu-Natal COGTA provincial office said: “we are now empowered with the valuable knowledge to make citizens to feel the impact of a responsive provincial administration.
