Constitutional Democracy and the Public Service Commission
11 October 2006
This morning marked the first meeting of the newly formed Ad Hoc Committee
on the Review of State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy and the
Public Service Commission.
Abdul Kader Asmal has been chosen as Chairperson of the 10-member committee,
whose stated goals are to review Chapter 9 State Institutions and the (Chapter
10) Public Service Commission for purposes including:
* assessing whether the current and intended legal mandate are suitable for
South Africa, whether their consumption of resources is justified in relation
to their outputs
* reviewing the appropriateness of the appointment and employment arrangements
for commissions and their secretariats with a view to enhanced consistency,
coherence, accountability and affordability
* reviewing institutional governance arrangements in order to develop a model
of internal accountability and efficiency
* improving the co-ordination of work between these institutions, and improving
co-ordination and co-operation with government and civil society
* recognising the need for a more structured oversight role by Parliament in
the context of their independence
* reviewing the financing models, with a view to improving accountability
independence and efficiency
The committee's mandate also reaches to organs of state âof a similar nature
whose work is closely related to institutions covered by the review.â
It was decided that in addition to the Chapter 9 organisations and the
Public Service Commission, bodies reviewed will include (but not necessarily be
limited to) Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the
Youth Commission, the Pan-South African Language Board, and the Financial and
Fiscal Commission.
The Ad Hoc Committee will hold a collective meeting with the bodies covered
by the review on Friday, 20 October, and sometime thereafter hold meetings
individually with the bodies, which are expected to last two to three hours
each.
Each body will also be given a detailed questionnaire which is to be
completed by 15 January 2007.
Ministers of Departments including Arts and Culture, Communications,
Finance, and Justice will each have until 15 January 2007 to prepare a report
to the Committee.
A meeting with interested civil organisations is scheduled for 25 October,
and an opinion survey of the public is expected to be completed in February
2007.
The Committee aims to complete its report on the matter by April or May.
A press conference announcing the formation and duties of the Ad Hoc
Committee is scheduled for 13h00 today at 90 Plein St.
Issued by: South African Human Rights Commission
11 October 2006
