Research and Development Unit
Office of the Chief Whip
Governance and Monitoring cluster
- Kusho ukuthini ukuba umsebenzi ka Hulumeni.
In 1997 the founding father of our nation President Nelson Mandela introduced Batho Pele initiative for the public service. Mandela’s intention with the initiative was to include African traditions velue systems in the public service, ngamanye amazwi uTata Mandela wayechaza kuthina sonke ukuthi kusho ukuthini ukusebenzela uHulumeni, kusho ukuthi ‘Abantu Kuqala’ ‘People First’.
To put people first means to sacrifice oneself into the service of others, it means submitting one’s will into the good of society and its people. This is why Public Servants are called ‘servants’ because they are expected to serve the public. The way we serve religion, the way we serve, our ancestors, the way we serve our relatives, elders, we must use that principle of service in the public sector to serve the people of South Africa.
- Ukusebenza ngo Ubuntu, ukwazi ukuthi uBuntu bomunye umuntu kulele kuwe. Ngoba abantu beza kuHulumeni ukuze bathole isithunzi bazibone nabo bengabantu eSouth Africa.
As the ANC we are not oblivious of the good work that some public servants have continued to do, earning them Patho Pele awards and the confidence of the people. Laba Basebenzi bakhombiza Ubuntu nokuzikhandla okubalulekile emsebenzini wabo ukwenza izimplilo zabantu zibe ncono.
Ubuntu abusho nje kuphela ukuthi umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu kepha ukwazi ukuthi ubuntu bomunye umuntu kuncike kuwena kuyijoka elikhulu. Ubuntu bususelwa esintwini sethu njengendlu emnyama ikakhulukazi. Isintu sinemigo yaso ebalulekile ekumele abasebenzi baHulumeni bayazi ukuze basebenzele abantu ngendlela efanele.
Ou people come from all walks of life, cultural backgrounds and traditions. When they visit government institutions they must not feel the need to abort those cultures to receive service. A pregnant women, a widow who is mourning must be served with care and understanding of their situation. This is the practice of placing people first, to resign our personal endeavours into the service of others. This is the fundamental role of frontline workers.
- Aligning Batho Pele principles with the professionalisation framework.
Therefore, when we speak about the professionalisation of the public service we mean among other things the improvement of the public service in line with our values as society. We mean the need to act professionally within the framework of African values of service.
- Instil good governance principles within the public service.
The role of ethics in the public service will allow us to improve good governance practices. To ensure that all pillars of good governance are present in the work of the public service; accountability, transparency, equity, participation and efficiency. Without ensuring the need for ethics the state would collapse and the public trust on government will continue to deteriorate.
The National School of government is already offering a course on ethics, we believe this course must be compulsory for all employees in the public service. Moreover, all employees must take an oath whenever taking up employment in the public service. Kumele bonke abansebenzi bakaHulumeni benze isifungo ngaphambi kokuba baqale ukusebenzela uHulumeni.
- Enforcing public service accountability in the public service.
Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation must ensure that there is continuous assessment of the ethical conduct of state employees. We must conduct lifestyle audits before we fully employ an individual. Those charged and found guilty must be prevented from changing departments or provinces without being detected. We must speed up the process of establishing a register of all delinquent individuals.