News24Wire reports that Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Minister Senzo Mchunu says the quality of the public service requires consistent and sustainable improvement.

On Thursday, Mchunu delivered his budget vote speech in the National Council of Provinces. He noted as follows: “There have been louder, more decisive calls for accountability, transparency, improved performance, citizenry satisfaction and government legitimacy. This will require a sober and well-balanced approach, which will enable us to advance and meet the expectations placed on public service from all perspectives. The public service must come of age and be accountable on its own.” Mchunu added that the image of the public service, notwithstanding its general orientation, was still tainted by several negative perceptions. He identified the following: “Low professionalism, low innovation and productivity, low level of skills and qualifications, laziness incompetence and corruption. Secondly, it still has traits of low capacity to translate public pronouncements into actionable policy and delivery in the interests of the people.” Mchunu reiterated his call for a single public administration and public service. EFF MP Sam Zandamela claimed the DPSA no longer existed for the purpose and mandate which it was intended for. “We are always told that the ruling party is working hard to create a developmental state, but all we see is the ruling party is working hard to steal our tax money,” he stated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at The Citizen

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