Monday 26 October 2026, Pretoria – The Minister for Public Service and Administration, Hon. Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, has called for the professionalisation of the public service through workplaces grounded in cohesion, accountability and motivation, so that every citizen receives consistent, quality service. The call follows his direct engagement with staff of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA).
In setting the memorandum aside to speak directly with officials, the Minister demonstrated an approach he now urges Executive Authorities, Heads of Department and managers across the public service to adopt: leadership that communicates beyond formal channels and engages employees as the people who give institutions life, because the way public servants are led shapes the way citizens are served.
The call is in line with the National Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Sector, which seeks to build a capable, ethical and developmental state.
Formal correspondence and procedures remain essential to government administration. Yet effective institutions are built not only on systems and structures, but on the people who bring them to life.
The Minister called for human-centred leadership that does not compromise on standards. He urged departments to cultivate workplaces founded on mutual respect, clear responsibilities, effective communication and collective responsibility.
He stressed that accountability must apply equally across the public service. “Accountability is the foundation of public trust and is a standard that should apply to everyone at every level,” said Minister Buthelezi. It must be consistent, and it must not change with the mood of the day.
The Minister further emphasised that cohesion is a leadership mandate, built by managers who communicate clearly and treat their teams fairly. Regardless of rank or function, every public servant contributes to the same mission: serving the people of South Africa.
This is not a departure from established administrative practice. It is a complementary approach that recognises that effective communication requires both documented instructions and meaningful human interaction.
The Minister therefore encourages leaders in every department to create regular opportunities for direct engagement with staff, to communicate expectations clearly, to provide constructive feedback, and to apply standards consistently and fairly.
When public servants experience clear communication, fair treatment, constructive feedback and consistent leadership, they carry those principles into their service to citizens. When those conditions are absent, even the most encouraging conversation risks losing its impact.
A cohesive, accountable and motivated public service is a collective responsibility. In the spirit of Batho Pele, it begins with how leaders engage the people they lead.
