Political interference under fire

Watchdog wants government HR practitioners empowered to resist meddling, appoint the most competent candidates

THE country’s public service watchdog wants human resources practitioners in government departments empowered to resist interference in recruitment by ministers and any other officials, irrespective of level or rank.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has identified “actual or perceived” political interference and senior management meddling among the constraints cited by government departments that hinder the effective implementation of the recruitment and selection processes in national and provincial government departments.

“Human resources practitioners should be empowered and supported through the National School of Government to assume a strategic role and to stand firm against actual or perceived unethical conduct and practices by executive authorities (ministers) and other officials, irrespective of level or rank, during the recruitment and selection processes,” the commission recommended.

According to the PSC, which is empowered to investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation and administration of the public service, hiring still remains critical and the assignment of responsibility for appointments in the public service to executive authorities (ministers, MECs) is necessary to manage the transition and transformational agenda.

“However, this came with its own challenges as it has created a perception that some public servants have been appointed based on their connections to a particular political principal rather than their level of expertise,” reads the report dated October 2018.

It also states there is a need for a professional public service where people are recruited and promoted on the basis of merit and potential rather than connections or political allegiance in line with the National Development Plan’s vision.

The PSC conducted its study in all national and provincial government departments and through a review of human resources management prescripts and departmental reports relevant to recruitment and selection in the public service.

Some departments told the commission that the recruitment and selection process was compromised by some senior managers and alleged political interference.

And the number of grievances and disputes related to inconsistent shortlisting and interviewing panels attested to this across departments, the PSC was informed.

Even “noble initiatives” such as employment equity were at times manipulated by employees with authority to appoint people who did not meet legitimate requirements, creating capacity challenges for departments.

The findings of the PSC probe also back earlier academic research which found that public service recruitment and selection policies and practices were manipulated to appoint favourable candidates at the expense of more competent and qualified candidates and as a result of managers trying to please politicians.

Public Servants Association (PSA) assistant general manager Reuben Maleka told Independent Media yesterday that the union had been consistent that every position must be filled on the basis of competency, qualifications and experience.

Maleka said this did not mean the PSA was opposed to governing political parties deploying members to strategic positions, but appointments must meet the set criteria.

“If you require an engineer, why appoint someone with a biblical studies qualification? You need someone with the required skills,” he said.