Parliament, Thursday, 31 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on Wednesday discussed the written submissions it received on the Public Service Commission (PSC) Bill of 2023, hailing it as a unique opportunity to improve and professionalise the public service.
The Bill was introduced in the 6th Parliament and advertised for public comment. The committee in the 6th Parliament could not process the Bill in time, so it was revived in the 7th Parliament. Following a presentation by the PSC on the Bill in September, the committee had its second meeting on Wednesday to discuss written submissions.
The committee noted the significance of the PSC Bill, which aims to strengthen the Public Service Commission and assist in holding executive members accountable. The Bill will also extend the commission’s mandate, which currently only applies to provincial and national departments, to include municipalities and public entities. The Bill will also provide the commission with its own secretariat independent from executive authority, among other things.
Committee Chairperson Mr Jan de Villiers called it a “unique opportunity” for the committee to process this important Bill and contribute to the professionalisation and improvement of the public service. “The purpose of this meeting is to consider the written submissions by organisations that showed interest in the Bill. This is aimed at preparing members for thought-provoking questions during the oral submissions in the coming weeks, when we will have to consider areas in the Bill that could be strengthened and redrafted.”
The Chairperson reminded members that the committee is now starting with this process, which it intends to finalise by the end of this year with a clause-by-clause deliberation. “This is all part of our journey to learn and get to know this Bill so that by the end of the year, we can craft a Bill that we as a committee can be proud of,” he said. “We have a unique opportunity to process this important piece of legislation that can improve South Africa and make the country a better place. This is our priority.”
The committee received written submissions from 11 organisations, municipalities and government stakeholders. They include the Western Cape government (Office of the Premier), the Organisation for Undoing Tax Abuse, the City of Cape Town metro, the National House of Traditional Leaders, the National Education Health Allied Workers Union, Public Affairs Research Institute, City of Tshwane Metro, Drakenstein Municipality, the Public Service Accountability Monitor and the Commission for Gender Equality.
The Chairperson said the Bill is an important step in professionalising the public service that will be merit-based. “The committee is excited and looks forward to processing this important piece of legislation,” he said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION, MR JAN DE VILLIERS.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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