Public Service Commission
Developmental state conference
Presentation from Former Directors General
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The context for the developmental state
Constitutional democracy - values of human
dignity, equality , advancement of human rights
and freedoms
Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of
law
The Bill of rights is a cornerstone of
democracy
Constitutionally enshrined second generation
rights
Developmental state by the entire state
including the legislature and judiciary
The state
The Executive
The
Developmental
State
The Legislature
The Judiciary
Cabinet and the
Political Leadership
The Public
Service and
Administrative
leadership
The Public
Entities,
State Owned
Enteprises
The role of the Executive
Apartheid
Fragmentation
bantustans,
tricameral and
provincial
administration
Segregated and balkanised
Service delivery with full
services for 3million of the
population
9 Provincial Governments in
Unitary state, expanded
mandate of service delivery
to all.
Advancement of equality and
human dignity through
service delivery for all 53
million
The transformation project
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From 1998 the Birth of coordination mechanism FOSAD Mandela Administration
Establishment of Cluster System and institutional
architecture
Role definition : advisory role, administrative processing,
shadow cabinet, coordination mechanism and information sharing
Capacity of the State Project organisation redesign to meet
the constitutional mandates through service delivery.
Largely cadres guided by revolutionary values and principles
of selflessness and sacrifice finalising the NDR project albeit
on a different terrain
Existence of the Department of State Expenditure parallel to
National Treasury and a Centralised Tender Board,
Transformation of financial accountability framework , devolution
and birth of PFMA
Development of institutional
architecture
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Establishment of constitutional democracy principles
Transformational Constitutionalism ?
Constitutional development with constant testing of
appropriate interpretation through the judiciary
Constitutionalism to the extent where the Constitutional
Court could take decisions to review legislation
The Contestation of the ideological principles
Does this undermine the state’s ability to be truly
developmental ? Focused with clear objectives,
uncontested values and principles
Completion of the Transformation project
Where are we today ?
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Section 26 of the constitution - right to access to adequate
housing, progressive realisation, economic constraints
Section 200 of the constitution - the primary objective of
the defence force is to defend and protect the Republic, its
territorial integrity and its people
How do we define territorial integrity ? External or Internal
Single Police Service and Single Public Service
The leadership of the public service to respond to these
challenges and close the gaps in the constitutional
framework
Comprehensive transformation of policy framework and
institutional architecture of SOEs
Constitutional challenges
Meritocracy through PSC preselection process and
skills retention
 Mandatory Public Service skills development plan and
education for a capable developmental state.
 Example : Municipal Demarcation Board, Capacity
Assessment of Municipalities, show academic
qualification are not a problem but reorientation and
education of officials on the constitutional democracy,
values, ethos, common vision, NDP and service
delivery imperatives
 Value system entrenchment - You build a house to
restore human dignity, not to spend your budget.
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To a brighter future
Reinforce ethos of Meritocracy
Mandatory education for all public servants
Service Excellence Campaign, Batho Pele
campaign type approach,
 Public Service Leadership role in society
 Context of the NDR, can the public service be
defined as a motive force?
 Interface with other sectors including Monopoly
Capital in implementing the NDP
 A caring government that put its people first,
 Comprehensive public consultation and
participation framework
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To a brighter future