PROFILES IN LEADERSHIP
Writer: Silusapho Nyanda
Dr Phil Mjwara backs the basics
A
measured on our ability to manage the department’s finances properly, the human resources plans we put in place, strategic orientation and role of leadership. “The scores we received from the adju-
t the heart of
Director-General (DG)
Awards. The department
dication panel suggest
innovative ideas
of the Department of
was also recognised
that the work we do
that will help im-
Science and Innovation
as the Best Functioning
in the department, as
prove the Public Service is
(DSI), who was named
National Department of
measured by MPAT, is
getting the basics right.
the Best Director-General
the Year.
performed at an above
This is the opinion of Dr Phil Mjwara (61), the
(National) of the Year at the recent Batho Pele
Mjwara believes that service excellence can be achieved by
Dr Phil Mjwara was named Best Director-General (National) of the Year at the Batho Pele Awards.
egories,” he says. Mjwara adds that his
all public servants and
department gets many
state entities. The secret
of the basics right, such
to his success, he says, is
as paying suppliers with-
putting in place policies
in 30 days, maintaining
and systems that ensure
good human resources
the department func-
records, ensuring a
tions even in his ab-
functional internal audit
sence.
process and having
The awards are judged
effective audit and enter-
across a number of
prise risk committees in
criteria, one of which is
place.
the Management Performance Assessment Tool
Setting the tone
(MPAT).
As the chief official of
“MPAT is a system that
12
average level in all cat-
the department, he sets
government has put
the tone for how the staff
in place to ensure that
conduct themselves.
the basics of govern-
Among his chief respon-
ment departments are
sibilities is all policy de-
performed. We [the
velopment in the science
DG’s nominated for the
and technology sector in
Batho Pele Awards] are
South Africa.
Public Sector Manager • December 2020/January 2021
