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Are we spending Taxpayer Money on Cr@p Again?

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A recent press release speaks of Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu appointing a task team to assist government through the National School of Government (The NSG), to finalise the National Implementation Framework towards the professionalisation of the public service.

“We have decided to bring independent expertise to assess the evidence, undertake peer review and make concrete recommendations on proposals outlined in the draft framework,” the Minister said in a statement on Monday.

It struck me that this action is one that people with no idea of how to manage or with no ability to see the bigger picture manage – “throw money at expensive consultants and expect the problem to go away”.

Maybe, just maybe that professionalising (maybe THAT is the entirely wrong word) of the public service could start on the ground with our Ward Councillors who, being at the coal face of service delivery, are uniquely placed to see just whom in our public service is delivering great service and who is not.

From there it is a simple task to identify those needing additional training or correction.

OR is Mchunu too sensitive to the fact that politicians would rather spend time blowing smoke up each others arses and planning how to stay in power with access to the gravy train in preference to actually fixing the problems?

Maybe Ward Councillors should ‘donate’ some of that 80% of their time that is spent on Non-Ward Related Politicking to helping our public service be better!

Background:

In December 2020, Mchunu released the draft National Implementation Framework towards the professionalisation of the public service for public comment.

This followed the Cabinet approval of the publication of the draft framework, which is in line with the commitment made by the sixth administration to create a capable, ethical and developmental public service.

The Minister initiated a public consultation process with key stakeholders from various organisations and institutions inside and outside the public sector earlier this year.

Through these public consultations, 159 organisations (including universities, research institutions, public sector institutions and professional bodies) participated and over 771 individuals attended the sessions.

“I am encouraged by the support we have received from professional bodies and institutions and such cooperation augurs well for the finalisation of the public service framework,” Mchunu said.

The Minister has appointed the high-level task team on the professionalisation framework that will be led by Professor Mashupye Maserumule as convenor and Priscilla Mdlalose as deputy convenor.

“Maserumule is the professor of Public Affairs at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) whilst Mdlalose is the Chief Executive Officer of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE). The members of the task team represent a wide array of institutions and sectors, including representation from Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA), think tanks, state-owned training academies, academia and the legal fraternity,” the NSG said.

Within a 90-day period, the task team will be expected to undertake some of the following tasks:

  • Review inputs received from all stakeholders and synthesise the key issues affecting the professionalisation of the public service.
  • Identify, consider and propose a range of areas of legislative and policy reforms across the public sector that are necessary to fully implement the professionalisation framework, as well as the mechanisms to achieve it.
  • Advance consideration of appropriate institutional and legal framework(s) to implement the framework, which ensures a comprehensive and effective implementation of professionalisation.
  • Recommend achievable timelines to expedite the legislation and effective implementation of the framework and to meet the proposed medium-term targets.

The Minister intends to finalise the framework and present key recommendations to Cabinet by the end of October 2021.

Author: Alan Straton from Ward 7 Nelson Mandela Bay.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.