Parliament, Wednesday, 10 June 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration today welcomed the work done to ensure that appointments in the public service are made on merit, but noted that there is still work to be done.
The committee received briefings from the Department of Public Service and Administration on merit-based appointments and from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) on leadership turnover and prolonged acting appointments in the public service.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Jan de Villiers, said the meeting demonstrated broad agreement across political parties and the government departments on the need for a professional, ethical and merit-based public service. “It is commendable that we are all working towards creating an independent, merit-based public service, because it is the only way we can fix our hospitals, get our police service to work and ensure that the people of South Africa receive the infrastructure and services they deserve.
“They must get value for their tax money so that we can ultimately grow the economy and create more employment,” the Chairperson said. “Merit-based appointments are therefore not simply an internal administrative matter. They are key to whether the state can meet its obligations to the public.”
Following a directive on professionalisation, which became effective on 1 April 2024, all accounting officers must hold a National Qualifications Framework Level 8 qualification or higher and must have at least 10 years’ experience at a senior management level. These requirements apply to all appointments, contract renewals and extensions in the public service.
The committee heard that the DPSA assessed several departments and found that 95% of the accounting officers in the sample complied with the directive. It welcomed the compliance rate but cautioned that the remaining cases are not inconsequential. Committee members further noted that when a department is led by an accounting officer without the necessary qualifications or experience, it may lead to poor governance and financial management, as well as leadership instability, which could affect service delivery.
The committee also called for consequences to follow and for action to be taken against officials in human resources, selection panels and executive authorities who approved appointments that did not comply with the requirements. When evidence of misrepresentation, fraud or an irregular appointment process is found, it must be investigated and subjected to disciplinary, administrative or legal action, committee members said.
The committee called for stronger pre-appointment controls to verify all qualifications, experience and suitability before an appointment. Members insisted that documented proof of compliance should form part of every appointment submission.
In response to the DPME’s presentation, committee members expressed concern about the high number of prolonged acting appointments in the public service, including the DPSA, which is also led by an acting Director-General. The committee noted that the department responsible for coordinating and enforcing norms and standards in the public service must lead by example.
Members heard that 33 national and provincial departments had acting directors-general, heads of department or chief executive officers during the 2024/25 performance cycle. They noted that acting appointments affect continuity and institutional memory, and, more importantly, service delivery, through delays in decision-making and in the implementation of departmental priorities. The committee also expressed concerns about institutional efficiency when officials in acting positions must also perform their own jobs.
The committee called for consequences when acting appointments exceed the prescribed six months. Members said the strain and challenges underlying acting appointments require more than just monitoring. Proper succession planning is needed, and recruitment should begin well before contracts expire, the committee noted.
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
Arrange a tour