National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector
S Maneli
We welcome the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector as approved by Cabinet on the 19th October 2022. This gives credence to President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud.
The Professionalisation Framework is introduced to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are appointed into positions of authority in government, in pursuit of a transformed, professional, ethical, capable and developmental public sector. Public officials should have the right qualifications and technical skills, and be inducted into Batho Pele principles. They must live the values of Chapter 10 of the Constitution.
The Professionalisation Framework proposes that the appointment to the Boards and Executives of SOEs should be based on merit. To further improve SOEs' performance efficiency, competent and autonomous management bodies must be appointed to oversee the SOEs' day-to-day operations. By 2023, all new Board members of all 721 SOE's will write compulsory pre-entry exams and must undergo compulsory induction before resuming duty and must be vetted. Prior to this, they must demonstrate suitability to an independent panel before their appointment.
