Parliament, Wednesday, 10 June 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration today noted the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) advisory report on the participation of public servants in political party study groups.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Jan de Villiers, said that, given the public interest in the matter and to ensure transparency, the committee invited the PSC to present the report findings, the legal assessment and recommendations. He sent a letter of invitation to the Chairperson of the PSC, Professor Somadoda Fikeni, on Wednesday.
The PSC prepared the report following complaints and requests to investigate public servants’ participation in political party study groups. The complaints relate to the involvement of public servants in forums where engagements with political party members occur outside formal parliamentary processes, are not institutionally transparent or recorded, access is selective and not equally available to all parliamentary actors, and confidential or privileged departmental information may be discussed.
In its oversight work, the committee has consistently highlighted the importance of building a capable, professional and ethical public service. The committee has also consistently called for maintaining the line between the political and administrative interfaces, and for ensuring that public servants serve and fulfil their duties professionally, without being drawn into partisan politics.
The date of the meeting will be announced once confirmed.
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
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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