Conversations with leaders

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu explains what it takes to be the ideal public servant

Atrue public servant always puts people first, does good even when no one is watching and takes a stand against corruption and wrongdoing.

These are the characteristics of an ideal public servant, says Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu.

His Public Service

Month message is that government employees should remember the importance of their work, not only in September but throughout the year.

This month, various government departments will host activities to celebrate the annual public service programme which is aimed at recognising the work done by public servants across all three spheres of government.

The month-long programme, which takes place against the backdrop of the global

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, will be commemorated under the theme: ‘Growing South Africa Together for an Ethical Public Service'.

The theme seeks to instil and rebuild good ethics and professionalism in how public servants perform their functions while also recognising the selflessness of the many frontline public servants, including doctors, nurses, caregivers, paramedics and police officials, who continue to work tirelessly in fighting COVID-19 and who have dedicated their lives to serving the public.

COVID-19 and the 4IR

Minister Mchunu says the outbreak of COVID-19 has dominated and characterised the year so far and claimed the lives of many public servants.

“As government, we would have hoped to

not have had even one death – not of a citizen or public servant. Our priority has always been and still is, to save lives and protect livelihoods.

“As a result, government has had to impose a number of measures to ensure the safety and support of the public at large such as the national lockdown and its various alert levels.”

He says specific measures have also been taken to ensure the safety of public servants.

These include guidelines for safe working environments, the introduction of remote working, the provision of personal protective equipment, guidelines to occupational health and safety in the workplace and training of health and safety representatives as well as the deployment of Cabinet Ministers to districts, to assist with issues relating to health, education and also water and sanitation.

“As government, we sympathise with the families of the public servants who have lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19 and we stand in solidarity in the continued fight.”

Minister Mchunu says government has learned many lessons from the pandemic.

The current climate of COVID-19 provides a “tectonic shift” in how services are offered, and requires the technological solutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

He notes while government has always tried to keep up with technological developments, COVID-19 revealed some gaps and weaknesses.

“We take up the challenge. We now know that what we thought we had done well, must be reviewed; as far as 4IR is concerned, we are talking e-government, smart government and various means to achieve that.

“We are embracing this new opportunity and are approaching relevant departments to make government work more efficiently.”

During the lockdown, thousands of public servants have worked from home and proved that they can perform efficiently without physically being in the office. This has reinforced the possibilities offered by the 4IR.

“We see the value. We should drive resources once we have dealt with the pandemic to invest more in the 4IR in future.”

He says the lessons learnt will not only create new possibilities that will improve people's lives, but will also serve as an opportunity for the review and adaptation of service delivery policies for improved service delivery post-COVID-19.

Professionalising the Public Service

Stressing the importance of professionalism in the Public Service, the Minister encouraged public servants to commit to gaining a thorough understanding of professionalism, and realise that their actions can constitute unprofessional conduct, even though no laws are broken.

“We serve people, and their expectation is that government will be good,” he says.

Government requires its employees to be in possession of certain skills and educational qualifications, which ensures

“We should drive resources once we have dealt with the pandemic to invest more in the 4IR in future.”

that the Public Service recruits people who are empowered with the basic tools required to do their work.

“Furthermore, government provides various educational opportunities to its employees in a form of upskilling programmes, bursary opportunities, and compulsory courses that include prerequisites to those who would like to hold managerial positions.”

In addition, the National School of Government, which is responsible for strengthening state capacity through education, training and development, is currently providing a number of programmes to public servants.

“These programmes are tailor-made to upskill and equip public servants. Further to this, Cabinet approved two new training programmes in August.”

The first programme is called ‘Economic Governance Spring School for Members of the Executive' and is specifically targeted at Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, Mayors, MECs and MMCs.

The second programme falls under the ‘Framework for Continuing Leadership Engagements for Heads of Department' in their capacity as accounting officers. It will be offered to accounting officers across all three spheres of government as well as CEOs at state-owned enterprises.

Minister Mchunu encouraged public servants to always roll up their sleeves and do their jobs, which is delivering services to the people as ethically as possible

– from answering calls from citizens to delivering the actual service that is required.

“Citizens often approach government institutions in need of services, either in person or through other mediums of communication and start off with:‘Dumela', ‘Sawubona' or ‘Good morning', from there, public servants are then supposed to return the courtesy and render the service.

“It is the people first, followed by the service and then the public servants who have to render the service.This makes public servants very pivotal.”

Clamping down on corruption

The Minister says government has zero tolerance for public servants who are still stealing from citizens.

“We want to call upon all public servants to conduct themselves ethically, in line with their professions. Similarly, we call on all public servants to not only desist against any criminal and corrupt activities but to fight and isolate it and expose anyone who commits such acts.”

The Minister reminded public servants that citizens look to them to solve the problems that are most crucial to them.

“I want to assure the public that there is a future in public service. I encourage public servants to comply with all the legal prescripts and to do right – even when no one is watching.”

He called on public servants to be guided by their conscience as they strive to deliver the better South Africa government is working towards.