President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Public Service Commission Bill into law, strengthening the commission's role in holding government departments and public institutions accountable for their administrative practices, ethical conduct, and service delivery failures. The new Public Service Commission Act repeals the 1997 Act and extends the commission's mandate to include local government and public entities. This move is part of the government's focus on building a capable and ethical state.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is mandated to monitor and evaluate a wide range of practices in the public service, including investigating maladministration, poor service delivery, and other failures in government administration. According to Ramaphosa, the constitution requires the commission to be independent and impartial in exercising its powers and performing its functions. The new law formalizes the commission's independence from government.
PSC commissioner Anele Gxoyiya explained that one of the key changes is the formal separation of the commission from government. Previously, commissioners were supported by the Office of the Public Service Commission, structured as a government department. The new legislation gives the commission enough independence from being a government department. This change aims to ensure the commission's impartiality in overseeing government departments.
The new Act also makes the commission's recommendations compulsory, meaning government departments cannot ignore them. The commission's oversight mandate has been broadened to include state-owned entities, companies, and local government. This expansion enables the commission to have a broader oversight of the public sector. The commission will now monitor and evaluate practices in these institutions.
The PSC deals with complaints from businesses and contractors who have not been paid by government departments. The commission follows up on complaints involving unpaid invoices, although it does not have a daily figure for the amount owed. Gxoyiya stated that the commission investigates the correctness of invoices and the accuracy of claimed amounts before pursuing payment.
The commission receives information from the National Treasury on outstanding payments quarterly and individual complaints daily. Businesses and contractors can approach the PSC through its provincial offices or use the National Anti-Corruption Hotline. Complaints received through the hotline are referred to the relevant province for follow-up. The hotline can be reached on 0800 701 701.
The Public Service Commission provides oversight over government departments and public institutions to ensure they maintain professional and ethical standards, use public resources efficiently, and respect the rights of public servants. The commission oversees the efficient and economic use of public resources and monitors human-resource practices in government. Its role is crucial in promoting a capable and ethical state.
Key points
- The new Public Service Commission Act strengthens the commission's independence and oversight mandate.
- The Act makes the commission's recommendations compulsory for government departments.
- The commission's oversight now includes state-owned entities, companies, and local government.
