Parliament, Wednesday, 30 September 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on Wednesday called for clarity on how efforts to professionalise the public service will extend to local government, as municipalities cannot be left behind in building a capable and professional state.
The committee received a briefing from the Office of the Auditor-General (AGSA) on the audit outcomes of the Department of Public Service and its entities for the 2025/26 financial year as well as the implementation of the National Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Sector.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Jan de Villiers, raised the issue of professionalisation in municipalities during the briefing. He noted that South Africa has 257 metropolitan, district and local municipalities. He said implementing the professionalisation framework across government would be incomplete if it did not adequately cover the local government sphere. “That leaves a massive gap in the professionalisation of the state,” he said. “Municipalities are most definitely a part of government and a vital part that needs to be professionalised.”
Mr de Villiers said the committee would take up the matter with the DPSA when it appears before the committee during the annual report process.
His comments followed the AGSA’s finding that professionalisation requires stronger coordination across the wider public sector and a clear process leader able to drive implementation beyond national and provincial departments.
The AGSA told the committee that a key recommendation from the previous audit cycle – the development of a government-wide implementation plan – remains outstanding. According to AGSA, the absence of this plan has contributed to fragmented implementation, inconsistent reporting and limited accountability for delivery. As a result, institutions have progressed at different rates, making it difficult to coordinate efforts, monitor progress effectively and drive implementation of professionalisation initiatives.
The committee heard that this lack of a coherent implementation roadmap has been a key factor contributing to the slower than anticipated progress in achieving professionalisation outcomes across government. The concern is particularly significant as the Medium-Term Development Plan sets a mid-term target of 80% implementation of the Professionalisation Framework by all state institutions.
Members of the committee questioned why earlier recommendations by the AGSA had not been fully implemented. They warned that the professionalisation framework risked becoming just another policy on paper without clear implementation and monitoring. Members also raised concerns that many performance indicators of the DPSA measure the production of reports rather than actual improvements in the public service. The AGSA had identified this as an emerging risk and said this made it difficult for users of performance information to determine how professionalised the public sector actually is and where gaps remain.
Members further raised concern about the impact of vacant senior management positions and leadership instability on the implementation of programmes and holding officials accountable. They also flagged weaknesses in induction, training and continuous professional development after employees enter the public service. According to the AGSA, recruitment had become the strongest aspect of professionalisation, while implementation weakened after appointment in areas such as induction and continuous learning.
The Chairperson said the committee will use the AGSA’s findings to further scrutinise the DPSA and its entities during the forthcoming annual report hearings, with a specific focus on issues related to professionalisation, implementation and outcomes that are expected.
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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