By Akani Nkuna
Public Service and Administration Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi has pledged to professionalise the Public Service to deliver enhanced, dignified services, particularly to vulnerable citizens, while promoting good and ethical management across the sector.
“We are committed to professionalising the public service, and that is non-negotiable. It is both a constitutional and democratic imperative. We will build a framework defined by competence, ethics, and accountability, because mediocrity has no place in this vision,” he said on Tuesday.
Buthelezi was speaking at the launch of Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM) in Hatfield, Pretoria, under the theme: Professionalising the Public Service to Build Trust and Restore Confidence in Government.
He emphasised that the programme aims to transform the government-citizen relationship through sustainable systems focused on accountable and respectable service delivery.
“Trust will not be restored through words, but through actions. We will be transparent about our progress, honest about our setbacks, and visible in our communities,” he said.
Key initiatives outlined include an Executive Service Delivery Blitz and a Public Service Charter Dialogue, where citizens’ input will help shape service delivery standards.
Buthelezi called for an action-oriented approach.
“The launch is not ceremonial; it is a strategic call to action. Public servants must match citizens’ urgency with speed, agility, and accountability,” he said.
The framework guiding these initiatives focuses on five core strategic outcomes: increased executive visibility and responsiveness, demonstrated professionalism and ethical conduct, trusted and effective complaints and compliments systems, citizen engagement and co-creation of solutions, and improved, integrated access to public services.
“These are not patronising measures—they are the yardsticks by which the public will judge us,” Buthelezi added.
Executive members will conduct oversight visits to public entities nationwide to enforce compliance, assess effectiveness, and ensure that services are delivered efficiently.
“We will hold ourselves accountable with clear indicators such as improved service satisfaction, reduced corruption, strengthened ethics, and increased citizen engagement. These will be our benchmarks,” he said.
Buthelezi also announced that good management will be recognised through incentives such as awards for departments and individuals, boosting morale and setting benchmarks for public service excellence.
“Through the Batho Pele Excellence Awards, we will celebrate public service individuals and departments that exemplify professionalism, responsiveness, and innovation in service delivery,” he said.
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