NDP – THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT

ON FRIDAY, August 21, I participated in the National Planning Commission (NPC) virtual colloquium on the developmental and capable state.

The NPC is expected, on an ongoing basis, to put forward research and evaluations on key cross-cutting, multi-sectoral issues to contribute towards an efficient, economic and effective governance of public administration and to produce reports and discussion papers that provide sound evidence and clear recommendations to government. The commission is in its final stages of handing over a report to the president to bring life to the plan.

Most departments struggle to build a complement of leading experts with specialised skills in their functional areas who can plan, monitor, give analysis and implement key policy and administrative changes that will drive development.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has already highlighted some of these challenges in relation to building a capable state for consideration by the president. They range from the need to depoliticise the public service to professionalising the public service.

It is our well-considered view that the imperative of making the public service a career of choice and building a competent, skilled, ethical and professional public service from the top and the bottom begins with a rigorous selection process free from biases and political interference.

Over and above meritocratic recruitment, it must be a values-driven public service.

Therefore, it is critical to find a balance between constitutional values, principles and the rules required for governance in public administration. The National Development Plan (NDP) vision is that, in 2030, South African public servants must be skilled, professional and accountable to the people.

The Constitution of South Africa ensures an environment conducive to the full and equal participation of women in society; to this end, NDP must be righteous in word and deed and do justice to women.

My focus for the day was on embedding the South African Constitution and the Constitutional Values and Principles as key foundational elements working towards a developmental and capable state in the context of professionalising the public service.

One of the major victories that can come out of the final submission to the president is the establishment of the Head of the Public Service and the recommendation for a hybrid approach to the appointment of top officials through the PSC and the Head of Public Service, which should assist in getting the best candidates appointed.

In most developmental states, political appointments into the bureaucracy are largely minimised. All other officials are technocrats, appointments are based on their talents, qualifications and experience. The appointment process is conducted by independent bodies or civil servants. Because appointments are not made based on political and other primordial considerations, civil servants act authoritatively in the national interest.

They are above politics. Professionalisation is about changing attitudes and behaviour towards serving the public based on values which serve citizens impartially in accordance with the constitutional principles and the Public Service Charter. We must serve people with empathy and respect. Professionalisation and being professional is, therefore, adhering to a set of values and principles. These we derive from the values and principles in the Constitution in how it affects governance, leadership and transformative constitutionalism. We dare not fail future generations.