ENSURING PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL SERVICE

DELIVERY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PERSPECTIVE

L.B. MGENGO28 AUGUST 2001

BACKGROUND

• PERCEPTION – PUBLIC SERVICE IS CORRUPT (EMPLOYEES AND THE SYSTEM)

• DISCUSSING ISSUES PERTAINING TO FRAUD AND CORRUPTION

• DISCUSSING VALUES AND INSTRUMENTS IN PLACE TO ENSURE PROF & ETHICAL SERVICE DELIVERY

ORGANIZATIONS & ENVIRONMENT

• CORRUPTION AND FRAUD - Not unique to South Africa - A dishonest, immoral and wicked person is said to be corrupt - Abuse of Public Office for private gain - Threatens economic development and foreign investment - Perpetrated in secrecy - Positively there is a growing awareness of negative impact both nationally and globally

CHALLENGES

• Are the systems that in place enough to combat corruption?

• Is this bad practice popularised down to community level?

FRAMEWORK

• POLICY LEVEL

- Constitution : Section 196(4)

- Code of Conduct, 1997 (The Code)

- Public Service Regulations, 1999

- Public Finance Management Act,1999

- Disclosure of financial interest and

- Any other relevant prescripts

ANTI-CORRUPTION PROGRAMME

• A USEFUL TOOL TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ABOUT CORRUPTION

• OBJECTIVES- Establish a national consensus through

co-ordination of sectoral anti-corruption strategies- Advise Government on the implementation of strategies to combat corruption- Share information and best-practices- Advise each other on the improvement of

sectoral anti-corruption strategies

TOWARDS A SOLUTION

• Integration of the Code into Departments, training programmes

• Explanatory Manual on the Code illustrating ethical complexities is available

• The Code is available in all official languages • Communication system (phone-in programmes &

panel discussions on TV and Radio)• Video for use during Anti-corruption workshops

and orientation training programmes in departments is being introduced

TREATMENT LEVEL:STRATEGIC

• PROMOTIONAL : Creating awareness and integrity through training and workshops

• PREVENTIONAL : Implementation of code of conduct – encouraging doing the right thing:

• COMBATING CORRUPTION : Popularising those engaged in corrupt practices through -Arresting the culprits (Public officials and the public) - Introduction of Hotlines- Blacklisting those involved in unethical behaviour