Public servants should recommit to making South Africa a better place

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to the new year and wish you prosperity. As we settle into the year, may we all renew our dedication and commitment to serve the people of South Africa, guided by the Batho Pele principles.

I would like to remind you that we are the channels through which government can implement it’s commitment to the people of South Africa to tackle the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Let us work hard and become a public sector trusted by the people, not the one perceived as corrupt and lacking discipline. Last year, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) noted that the people of South Africa perceive public servants as corrupt, and contravening policies and regulations. They also felt that these actions go unpunished.

In November 2022, Public Service and Administration Acting Minister Thulas Nxesi revealed that 119 public servants were registered on the Central Supplier Database with the purpose to conduct business with the State. This is a contravention of Regulation 13 (c) of the Public Service Regulations, 2016, which prohibits public servants from conducting business with organs of state. Accord- ing to Section 8 of the Public Administration Management Act, 2014 (Act 11 of 2014), it is a criminal offence for workers in the public sector and special advisors to conduct business with the State.

While the DPSA is in the process of drafting a discipline management strategy to address these concerns, the ball is in our courts to clean up the damage caused by some amongst us – by working hard and ethically. Let us continue to build on achievements made since the onset of democracy and make South Africa a better place.

On 9 February 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the 2023 State of the Nation Address. He will set out government’s key policy objectives and deliverables for the year ahead, highlight achievements, flag challenges and outline interventions to unlock development for the coming financial year. The

President will also highlight government achievements since his last address in 2022. These objectives are aimed at improving the lives of the people of South Africa. It is our duty, as public servants, to implement and deliver these programmes for the betterment of the country and the people we serve.

Let us be guided by the Batho Pele principles, which were recently reviewed, resulting in the Batho Pele Revitalisation Strategy. The strategy provides guidance and standards for government departments and give effect to a citizen-centred public service delivery programme that we should all follow.

Let us strive for excellence in executing our duties and adhere to the Public Service Pledge, in which we committed to serve the people of South Africa with loyalty, respect, dignity and integrity.