The public service is not as efficient and effective as it should be. The low capacity poses fundamental challenges to government’s efforts to address triple challenges of high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment. It has also constrained the ability of the state to transform the structure of the economy and to make it more competitive.
Without addressing the capacity deficits of the public service, South Africa‘s goal of becoming a capable and developmental state will be compromised. In 2013, the Government adopted its first National Development Plan (NDP) with a commitment to building a capable and developmental state, central to which is a capable, effective and efficient public service.
The NDP envisages a significant role for the Public Service Commission (PSC) in building a capable and developmental public service. It is against this background that the PSC will host a Developmental State Conference with the theme “Building a capable, career-oriented and professional Public Service to underpin a Capable and Developmental State in South Africa”.
The objectives of the conference are to amongst others:
- develop a shared understanding in the PSC of the concept of a capable and developmental state, and on the attributes of a public service and administrative leadership that should underpin it;
- critically review public service institutions and practices with a view to advising key decision-makers about the direction of change of the public service for South Africa to become a capable and developmental state;
- develop a strategic framework document on the attributes of both the public service and the administrative leadership that should underpin a capable and developmental state in South Africa; and
- make recommendations to key decision-makers on building a capable, career-oriented, professional public service.
The conference will be addressed by amongst others, Adv. Richard Sizani, Deputy Chairperson of the PSC; Mr Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency; Mr Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Home Affairs; Mr Collins Chabane, Minister of Public Service and Administration; Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education; and Ms Peace Mabe, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration as well as Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.
The members of the media are invited to the event which will be held as follows:
Venue: Saint George Hotel and Conference Centre- Centurion, Pretoria
Date:11 – 13 November 2014
Time: 09h00 – 17h00
RSVP:
Ricardo Mahlakanya
Tel: 012 352 1070
Cell: 079 769 7955
E-mail: ricardom@opsc.gov.za;
Enquiries:
Humphrey Ramafoko
Tel: 012 352 1196
Cell: 082 782 1730
E-mail: humphreyr@opsc.gov.za.
