By Thapelo Molefe
A lack of coordination across the different spheres of government continues to persist, according to Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya.
He has described the way that the different sectors of government function with each other as “obtuse, patchy and haphazard”.
Gxoyiya was briefing the media on the PSC’s quarterly bulletin.
He identified the absence of a unified public service as a significant fault line in public sector reform, saying: “An appropriate structure with decision-making authority needs to be established to support planning and coordination across institutions and spheres of government.”
To address these challenges, the Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development Clusters have been proposed as a platform to enhance coordination, supported by technical working groups.
Reflecting on a dialogue held in September, Gxoyiya emphasised on Wednesday the need for tangible progress in including persons with disabilities in the public services.
While acknowledging the country’s progressive policies, he lamented the gaps in their implementation, stating: “Only a small fraction of public facilities currently meets accessibility standards. This underscores a pressing need for systematic reform.”
Themed “Service Delivery Inclusion: 30 Years and Beyond,” the dialogue drew attention to the disparity between policy and practice, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment.
One of the pressing issues highlighted was the growing financial burden of kept leave.
“As of December 31, 2023, the total cost of kept leave in the public service was R16.24 billion, with 189,039 employees affected,” Gxoyiya said.
He said the SA Police Service alone accounted for nearly 1.5 million days of kept leave, costing R4 billion.
The commissioner suggested exploring options such as once-off pay out or allowing employees to convert leave into pension contributions.
Another important issue raised by Gxoyiya was the non-payment of suppliers within 30 days, a recurring problem affecting service delivery.
In the second quarter of 2024, national departments delayed payments on over 40,000 invoices worth R752 million.
Gxoyiya called for stronger mechanisms to enforce compliance, saying that failure to pay suppliers on time was in violation of the Public Finance Management Act.
The commissioner also highlighted workplace grievances, with 95% of cases referred to the PSC coming from employees.
He stressed the importance of addressing issues such as harassment and bullying promptly, noting that “these practices adversely affect productivity and service delivery”.
In closing, Gxoyiya reiterated the PSC’s commitment to fostering a capable, ethical and developmental public service.
“We call on public servants to embrace constitutional values in their daily tasks and commit to fostering a professional and accountable public service,” he said.
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