Five years ago, the new Public Service Commission (PSC) took office under new legislation and in terms of the Constitution of 1996. Gone was the old Commission for Administration as well as the post-1994 Public Service Commission under the interim Constitution of 1993. The current PSC, which came to effect in 1999, saw a radical shift in terms of role and functions. As a result, the PSC has done work in various areas of public administration and governance.

Addressing the media at the Parliamentary Media Briefing in Parliament today, the Chairperson of the

Commission, Professor Stan Sangweni, said that the Commission has done extensive work in areas such as Senior Management and Conditions of Service; Labour Relations; Public Administration Investigations; Human Resource Management; Anti-Corruption and Professional Ethics Promotion; Monitoring and Evaluation; and Service Delivery Improvement.

Professor Sangweni stressed that although the PSC's achievements speak volumes, the PSC has "consciously avoided sensationalism while striving to rigorously identify strengths and weaknesses in public administration".

Achievements on the work relating to Senior Management and Conditions of Service are clearly reflected on issues around overarching reviews of conditions of service and subsequent policy changes on matters such as leave, overtime, subsidized motor scheme, and medical boarding, as well as performance management

Labour Relations achievements are centered on grievances and complaints, where complaints on matters such as mal-administration, corruption, service failures, dishonesty and impropriety, were received and dealt with successfully

In terms of Human Resource Management, the PSC prides itself on its role around affirmative action; verification of qualifications of middle and senior management members; career management of public servants; as well as recruitment and selection.

Despite its achievements on Human Resource Management and Labour Relations, the PSC acknowledges that there are still serious challenges to be met. Ms Odette Ramsingh, Deputy Director-General: Investigations and HR Reviews, told the media that amongst these challenges, are promotion and monitoring of compliance with public service HIVIAIDS policy; improving departmental labour relations, especially the enhancement to systems for the management of grievances and discipline; improvement of staff retention and succession planning; and improvement of representivity in the public service.

Deputy Director-General: Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Richard Levin, said that on the corruption front, "the PSC played a central role in amongst others, implementing the Resolutions of the 1999 Anti-Corruption Summit; initiating programmes of anti-corruption investigations focusing on systemic risks, for example, the evaluation of corruption in the Eastern Cape Province; and the investigation into control systems governing state medicines"

The PSC can also count as its achievement, the creation of an integrated Public Service Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system. This led to various detailed programme evaluations been completed. Amongst these programme evaluations were those on Housing, Land and Administration, and Transport.

As part of its achievements on service delivery, the PSC conducted a survey into compliance with Batho Pele requirements; citizens' satisfaction from public services; facilitated the Citizens' Forum for Service Delivery Improvement; and produced good management guides in school and policing.

For Enquiries, please contact:

Professor Richard Levin, Deputy Director-General: Monitoring and Evaluation at (012) 352-1021 1 0833204129

OR

Humphrey Ramafoko, Director: Communication & Information Services at (012)352-11961082782 1730