Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

By Sihle Manda 

The Public Service Commission Amendment Bill is poised to become one of the most consequential reforms in South Africa’s public administration landscape. 

Should it see light of day, the legislation will significantly expand the authority of the Public Service Commission (PSC), strengthening oversight across national, provincial and local government, as well as state-owned entities.

In a recent interview with the Public Sector Manager magazine, PSC Chairperson, Commissioner Somadoda Fikeni, was at pains to emphasise the importance of the long-in-the-making document. The Bill is currently before National Council of Provinces after Parliament’s nod in March 2025.

The Bill was conceived in June 2023, when it was first published for public comment. This is the furthest the Bill has gone, with previous attempts aborted. 

For Fikeni, the document represents one of the most significant milestones in the evolution of public administration since the democratic era. More importantly, he believes it provides practical tools to address long-standing governance weaknesses.

At the heart of it is the proposed expansion of the PSC’s mandate beyond national and provincial government to include local government and state-owned entities. These are government structures that have in recent years faced significant governance challenges.

Fikeni explained that the current interpretation of the legislation limited the commission’s reach.

“Most of the time those institutions were outside the gaze of the PSC, for one simple reason – the notion of public service was interpreted narrowly to mean national and provincial government,” he said. 

A single public administration 

The Bill changes that fundamentally.

“The Bill immediately gives us powers to go to local government, and it gives us powers which we were exercising provincially and nationally. It gives us powers to go to Eskom, to Transnet and every other state-owned entity.

“The harmonising and standardising of standards and norms for public administration, and creating a single public administration will be greatly assisted in that sense,” he said.

Stronger enforcement powers

Another key shift introduced by the Amendment Bill is the strengthening of the PSC’s authority to enforce its recommendations. 

Historically, departments were notorious for ignoring PSC findings, weakening accountability mechanisms. 

“The new Bill says you will no longer ignore those directives from the PSC and the findings. You would have to challenge them in court rather than just ignore them”.

He compared the reform to similar legislative strengthening seen in other oversight institutions.

“You saw the same thing with the Public Protector when the case law started giving it more teeth. You have seen the same thing with the Auditor-General (AG)l. Now the PSC is coming to that space”.

Independent investigation 

Fikeni added that the PSC occupies a unique oversight position because it can initiate investigations independently.

“we can do our own accord investigation without anyone reporting, and we can recommend policy changes. We can partner with the department or with an institution to change certain things”.

Currently, the commission’s secretariat operates as a government department under the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) – an arrangement that at times presented governance complexities.

This reform, he noted, removes an institutional contradiction.

“In that way, we will not have this awkwardness of overseeing the DPSA, and at the same time having our department reporting to the Minister. They will be completely outside”.

A professional public service

The Bill complements broader reforms aimed at professionalising the Public Service, particularly the implementation of the National Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service approved by Cabinet in October 2022. 

Fikeni stressed that professionalisation begins with merit-based recruitment and expert-led selection processes.

“Professionalisation of the Public Service will ensure that a panel of experts is created by the PSC,” he said. “If you are appointing a director-general (DG) or head of department, you will no longer just have a Minister calling another Minister and then one other DG to sit around the table”.

Instead, expert panels aligned to specific sectors will guide recruitment.

“If it is science and technology, if it is communication and digital technologies, we go to the relevant professional bodies or highly respected experts in that field to say, ‘you will be part of this panel’”.

Such reforms are intended to restore integrity in leadership appointments, he said.

“One of the reasons that we saw a decline in our public service over time was that people were being appointed for loyalty rather than for competence,” he said.

Lifestyle audits

Alongside structural reforms, the PSC is prioritising anti-corruption interventions such as lifestyle audits, particularly those in high-risk functions.

He explained that ethics officers in departments must be trained to detect unexplained wealth and suspicious financial behaviour.

“All of a sudden, a person who is earning R15 000 just rolls in in a Maserati or another type of car… the lifestyle audit ought to target those”.

Initially, the audits will focus on sensitive roles such as procurement and human resources (HR).

“We are proposing to target the sensitive areas for now as we roll it in supply chain, project managers, HR and people who are in the value chain most exposed in procurement”.

These measures will be strengthened through collaboration with oversight bodies such as revenue authorities and forensic agencies.

“If entities are overwhelmed, we are beginning to say, let us coordinate with the AG, with SARS and other departments so that we can have an early warning system”.

Innovative technology

Technology also features prominently in the PSC’s reform strategy. The commission is advocating for an integrated digital system that records biometric information for all public servants.

Such a system would address long-standing problems such as ghost workers and disciplinary evasion.

“You do not get expelled in province A and reappear in province B. whenever you put your finger, your face or your iris into the system, it will bring in all those files”.

The Amendment Bill identifies municipalities as a primary focus area for the PSC due to local government being at the coalface of service delivery. 

“That is where most criminal cases, corruption cases and service delivery issues are concentrated”.

SOEs will also receive targeted oversight, he added.

“If we get that one right, especially in the current geopolitical situation, our logistics and harbours will be in good space”.

Restoring confidence

While the Amendment Bill holds promise for positive change in the public sector, its success will ultimately hinge on effective implementation. 

“The problem in South Africa is that we come up with good policies, but struggle with implementation,” Fikeni cautioned.

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that the new legislative framework will strengthen accountability and restore confidence in public institutions. 

*This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager Magazine

0

By Nomakhosazana Meth, Minister of Employment and Labour

May Day is a profound reminder of the hard-fought battles for labour rights, and the collective power of social dialogue. From the factory floors and deep-level mines to the bustling tech hubs and vast agricultural lands, the hands of our workers continue to build the foundation of our democracy and power up the engines of our economy.

May Day serves as an annual pledge to ensure that the Decent Work agenda is not just a policy framework, but a lived reality for every citizen. 

This Worker’s Month, South Africa stands in solidarity with the global community to pay tribute to the unwavering resilience, dedication, and sacrifice of the South African workforce.

From 1994, South Africa’s public service merged into a single, non-racial system to serve all citizens equally and fairly. This journey of transformation enshrined in our Constitution with new values, would not have been possible without the sacrifice of those public service workers who joined the millions of South Africans in the struggle against an unjust segregated apartheid system.

The Department of Employment and Labour remains deeply committed to its dual mandate: protecting the vulnerable and facilitating the entry of the unemployed into the mainstream economy. 

We recognise that the greatest threat to the dignity of our people, in particular the youth, is the scourge of unemployment. To this end, our labour activation programmes (LAP) have transitioned from mere concepts into powerful catalysts for change. 

Hence, we have declared 2026; “the Year of Putting Young South Africans to Work, in Honour of the 1976 Youth and Commemoration of the Youth Uprising Golden Jubilee”.

By strategically deploying billions of rands into various sectors, we are not simply spending public funds; we are investing in human capital. 

These interventions are designed to bridge the gap between existing skills and the evolving demands of the modern market. Whether it is through training-to-placement schemes or supporting budding entrepreneurs, our goal is to ensure that no South African is left behind in the shifting economic landscape.

Furthermore, we continue to strengthen the social security safety net through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) as well as the Compensation Fund. 

These institutions are the silent guardians of our workforce, providing essential relief and support when workers face unforeseen circumstances. We are aggressively modernising these services to ensure that they are accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of those they serve, who are most often vulnerable workers and beneficiaries.

We remain vigilant in our enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and occupational health and safety standards. A worker who is safe and fairly compensated is a productive worker, and a productive workforce is the only path to a prosperous South Africa. However, growth cannot exist without justice.

As the Ministry of Employment and Labour, we have tabled before Parliament Bills aimed at the protection of the rights of the labour force; the Employment Services Amendment Bill (ESAB) and the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP), while the Labour Law Amendment Bills are currently undergoing public consultation.

Employment Services Amendment Bill

The ESAB aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market. The primary focus is on the regulation of the employment of foreign nationals and enhancing job opportunities for South African citizens. 

The Bill amends the Employment Services Act of 2014, to address rising unemployment and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower skilled sectors, and has since been approved by Cabinet and taken to Parliament for further processing. 

National Labour Migration Policy 

The NLMP and ESAB are intrinsically linked with the NLMP, providing the policy framework for managing foreign labour and ESAB provides policy legal force.

Together, they aim to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in our country through quotas and sector restrictions. Cabinet has also approved the NLMP. 

Labour Laws Amendment Bill

The department has published the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, 2025 together with the Labour Relations amendment Bill, 2025 and related notices, marking an important step in strengthening protections for workers across the country. The proposed changes modernise key labour laws and introduce practical measures aimed at improving job security, promoting fairness, and extending fundamental rights to vulnerable and previously excluded categories of workers. 

The Bills also aim to improve enforcement mechanisms, ensuring that employees receive the full benefits of the law. 

In summary, the amendments introduce a more equitable parental leave system by replacing the fragmented maternity and parental leave framework with a shared parental leave model.

A single or sole employed parent is entitled to four months’ parental leave, while two employed parents share four months and ten days, subject to agreed arrangements or equal sharing in the absence of an agreement, with priority given to the birthing mother.

Protecting the most vulnerable

Most vulnerable are workers often in retail, security or hospitality –  frequently vulnerable to irregular hours, no guaranteed income and last-minute cancellations. 

As the department of Employment and Labour, we remain committed to advancing a fair, modern and inclusive labour market that protects the dignity and rights of the labour force.

The announcement of the 10 000 inspectors by President Cyril Ramaphosa at this year’s State of the Nation Address is a significant jobs boost aimed at significantly strengthening our capacity to enforce compliance with labour legislation, protect vulnerable workers and ensure fair labour practices across all sectors of the economy. 

The 10 000 inspectors, together with the Project 20 000 inspector interns will support stability and fairness in the labour market.

As we commemorate Workers’ Month, let us renew our social compact. I call upon organised labour, the private sector, and civil society to join hands with government. 

In the words of South Africa’s first democratically elected President, our beloved Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on the occasion of his Inauguration in 1994; “We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must, therefore, act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world”.

Let us, therefore, continue to transform our labour market into an inclusive space of opportunity, innovation and mutual respect.

To the workers of South Africa: your labour is the architect of our future. We salute your contribution to this great nation.

*This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager Magazine

0

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has tabled the department’s R2.86 billion budget in Parliament today.

Operational allocations include: 

• R70.46 million for the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. 
• R94.98 million for the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA). 
• R666.9 million for the Council for Geoscience. 
• R328.7 million for Mintek.  
• R4.89 million for the Mine Health and Safety Council. 

Project-specific allocations include: 

• R23.48 million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project. 
• R140.87 million for the Rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines. 
• R48.1 million for the implementation of the Shale Gas Project 
• R33.83 million for the Mine Water Ingress Project. 
• R31.12 million for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Project. 

The budget, Mantashe said, is government’s response to global challenges arising from conflict and a sluggish economy.

“We are tabling this Budget Vote during a difficult period in the global economy. A time when conflict rages in the Middle East with its tremors felt far beyond its frontlines, destabilising global energy supply chains and casting a long shadow over our own economic recovery.

“In this era, where energy security is intrinsically linked to national stability, we cannot stand on the sidelines and be passive observers. This budget is our strategic response to these geopolitical realities, a commitment to protecting the livelihoods of our people, securing our energy future, and anchoring our economy against the rising tides of international instability and price volatility,” Mantashe said.

Central to the strategic response is an acceleration of the Upstream Petroleum Industry and a determined push to expand South Africa’s refining capacity, despite what the minister described as “persistent pressure from certain environmental lobby groups”.

“The fact remains that petroleum security is not a theoretical debate, but an economic necessity and a national imperative.

“For this reason, it is imperative that we accelerate processing of the South African National Petroleum Company Bill [SANPC] to enable the full operationalisation of the SANPC as a strategic state-owned entity to enable meaningful and strategic state participation in the oil and gas sectors, as envisioned in the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act [UPRDA],” Mantashe said.

In that same vein, the moved to calm any public anxiety over fuel supply.

“While global fuel supply challenges persist, I would like to assure the people of South Africa that we have sufficient fuel supply to meet demand, and that our fuel supply remains stable.

“Working closely with industry stakeholders, we continue to monitor the supply situation and will ensure ongoing transparency in this regard,” he said.

The mining industry

Mantashe noted that despite global headwinds, the sector is demonstrating resilience and “remains a cornerstone of our economy”.

“South Africa’s mining Gross Value Add reached R477 billion in 2025, contributing approximately 6.3% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This growth was driven largely by strong iron ore and manganese exports, improved commodity prices, and strong sectoral performance during the first three quarters of the year.

“Mining royalties collected into the fiscus totalled approximately R11.8 billion in 2025, marking an increase of 11% from the R10.6 billion recorded in 2024,” he said.

The Minister acknowledged that despite the continued resilience, the sector still faces challenges with rising the rising cost of electricity placing “severe operational pressure on mining companies, particularly deep-level gold and Platinum Group Metal [PGM] operations”.

Turning to the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy, Mantashe told the House that the era of dormant policy documents was over.

“House Chairperson, last year, we made a solemn commitment to this House that the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy would not become a document destined to gather dust on a shelf. We said, it must become a shovel in the ground and a magnet for investment.

“Today, we are happy to share with you that the era of passive policy is over. We have moved decisively from blueprint to battlefield, aggressively actioning the framework to secure a seat at the head of the global critical minerals dialogue and transactions.

“We are transforming our mineral endowment into a catalyst for industrialisation, investment, and economic growth. I can assure you that we are not just planning for the future, we are actioning it,” he insisted.

One of the key pillars of the strategy is geoscience mapping and exploration.

The minister said through the Council for Geoscience (CGS), government is investing in “high-resolution geoscientific data aimed at derisking exploration and attracting investment”.

“We can report that through its Integrated and Multi-Disciplinary Geoscience Mapping programme, the CGS has increased national onshore mapping coverage from below 5% in 2019 to a cumulative 20% in the 2025/26 financial year. The CGS will continue scaling this flagship programme across both onshore and offshore domains, with a focused effort on generating and disseminating high-quality pre-competitive geoscience data.

“This data can be accessed through the Virtual Core Library – launched at this year’s Mining Indaba – which serves as a strategic national asset designed to transform how South Africa unlocks value from its geological assets,” Mantashe revealed.

Furthermore, the R400 million Junior Mining Exploration Fund has funded some 13 projects with exploration already underway at sites including Giyani and Bothaville.

Mine safety and policy

Mantashe told the House Mineral Resources Development Bill is undergoing legal certification at the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor before heading to Cabinet for approval.

It is anticipated that the Bill will then be introduced to Parliament in the second quarter.

The Mine Health and Safety Bill aimed at embedding compliance as a core business function “rather than an administrative exercise” is before Parliament.

“Once enacted, this legislation will strengthen accountability, tighten operational requirements, improve enforcement measures, and further our commitment towards achieving the goal of zero harm.

“Notwithstanding the ongoing review of the policies, it is encouraging that the sector is already making strides towards attaining the goal of zero harm, as evidenced by a historic 41 fatalities recorded in the 2025.

“The Ekapa disaster, which claimed five lives, is a stark reminder that complacency has no place in this industry. Investigations regarding the disaster are already underway, and we will ensure that no stone is left unturned in uncovering the facts surrounding the disaster,” Mantashe noted. – SAnews.gov.za

0

South Africa and Botswana are set to use the 6th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone this week to accelerate efforts aimed at deepening regional trade, improving market access and strengthening cross-border investment in Southern Africa.

The high-level commission, taking place on 21 May 2026, comes at a time when both countries are seeking to position themselves more strategically within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader Southern African development agenda.

Officials’ meetings began on 17 May and will run until 19 May, ahead of a Ministers’ Meeting on 20 May. 

Alongside the diplomatic engagements, the Botswana-South Africa Business Forum is expected to place renewed focus on practical economic cooperation between the two neighbouring states.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Alexandra Abrahams is expected to deliver remarks at the Business Forum, where discussions are likely to centre on expanding bilateral trade, resolving market access constraints and strengthening regional value chains within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The latest BNC session signals a growing shift from symbolic bilateral cooperation toward more implementation-driven economic coordination, particularly in sectors considered critical for regional growth. 

These include agriculture, mining, transport, infrastructure, energy, tourism, finance, water and technology.

Abrahams said the commission would provide an opportunity to review progress made since the previous BNC session, especially commitments linked to the Economic Cluster.

“The deliberations of the BNC are expected to support stronger bilateral trade and investment ties between South Africa and Botswana,” she said.

A key focus area is expected to be the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Industrial Cooperation, which seeks to reduce trade barriers, improve customs cooperation and support investment partnerships across SACU value chains.

The discussions come amid steadily expanding commercial ties between the two economies.

South Africa remains one of Botswana’s largest trading partners and accounts for roughly 60% of Botswana’s imports, including fuel, machinery, food products and industrial goods. In 2025, South Africa exported goods worth R73.6 billion to Botswana, while imports from Botswana were valued at approximately R7.6 billion.

Botswana is also becoming an increasingly important destination for South African investment.

According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, 30 South African companies invested in Botswana between January 2003 and March 2026, spanning industries such as mining, financial services, communications, tourism, information technology and consumer products.

The commission is also expected to examine ways of addressing ongoing market access challenges affecting several sectors, while improving coordination on shared economic priorities.

Beyond trade, the BNC will tackle broader regional and continental issues, including regional security within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and opportunities linked to the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA remains central to both countries’ long-term economic ambitions, with leaders viewing regional integration as key to unlocking larger export markets, industrial growth and intra-African investment opportunities.

South Africa and Botswana currently maintain 38 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering sectors such as security, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.

Originally established through an agreement signed in 2012 and inaugurated in 2013, the BNC has become one of the region’s key bilateral cooperation mechanisms. – SAnews.gov.za

0

The South African government has expressed its condolences following the passing of former North West Premier Bushy Maape, describing him as a dedicated public servant and respected leader who made a lasting contribution to the province.

In a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Monday, government said Maape’s passing marked the loss of “a champion for the development of the North West province” who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of communities throughout his career in public service.

Government praised Maape for supporting programmes aimed at strengthening service delivery, promoting economic development and advancing the dignity and wellbeing of residents across the province.

“His leadership was characterised by humility, discipline and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the province,” the GCIS said.

Maape was also recognised for his commitment to ethical leadership and accountable governance. 

Government said he believed in building an inclusive society where public institutions remain responsive to the needs of citizens.

His contribution to provincial governance and his efforts to foster stability and development in the North West province have left behind a meaningful and lasting legacy which will continue to inspire current and future generations of leaders.

“Government extends its sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the people of the North West Province during this difficult time,” said government. – SAnews.gov.za

0

The National Dialogue Steering Committee has formally adopted a framework that will guide the rollout phase of the National Dialogue pilot process.

Steering Committee spokesperson Qhamisa Tengile said this follows the adoption of the National Dialogue Roadmap in March, which “laid the strategic foundation for the phased national rollout of the National Dialogue process”.

“The adoption of the Implementation Framework marks an important transition from strategic planning toward structured pilot implementation, as the National Dialogue continues to build the governance, operational and participation architecture required to support a credible, inclusive and citizen-led national process owned by the people of South Africa.

“The adopted Implementation Framework provides a coordinated operational pathway for the pilot phase scheduled to commence in June 2026 and conclude in August 2026. During this phase, the thirty-nine (39) sectors of the National Dialogue will coordinate a total of 195 pilot dialogues, including ward-based, digital, media-based and sectoral dialogues across all nine provinces of South Africa,” Tengile said.

The pilot phase is designed as a deliberate national learning and participation process aimed at:

• Testing methodologies and engagement models;
• Strengthening systems and operational readiness;
• Ensuring broader accessibility and inclusion;
• Integrating existing grassroots and community dialogues, and
• Enabling citizens and communities themselves to shape the future implementation methodology of the National Dialogue.

“The Steering Committee emphasises that the Implementation Framework remains a working operational guide that will continue to evolve through implementation learning processes, sectoral coordination and ongoing institutional refinement.

“In this regard, the National Dialogue seeks to proceed with both urgency and responsibility, recognising the importance of ensuring that the process remains grounded, inclusive, credible and responsive to the lived realities of South Africans.

“The implementation phase is guided by the principle that the National Dialogue must not merely speak about communities, but must create meaningful platforms through which communities are able to speak for themselves, influence national reflection and contribute towards a people’s compact aimed at informing the future growth trajectory of the Republic of South Africa,” she said.

The proposed pilot dialogues are expected to prioritise:

• Balanced participation across provinces, districts, rural communities, urban centres, townships and sector formations;
• Direct community participation and ward-level engagement, targeted at approximately 60% of the rollout;
• Building trust through direct engagement in communities often excluded from national processes;
• Multilingual facilitation approaches;
• Trauma-informed engagement methodologies, and
• Dialogue models capable of navigating South Africa’s social, economic and geographic diversity.

“The Steering Committee further recognises that the success of the National Dialogue depends not only on engagement itself, but also on the strength of the systems supporting implementation, coordination and rapid response capacity,” Tengile added.

She noted that due to the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for November this year, the dialogue will take a pause.

“In recognition of the heightened political environment during the election period, and in order to preserve the non-partisan credibility, neutrality and integrity of the National Dialogue process, the Steering Committee has resolved that the Dialogue will enter a pause and reflection period between September and December 2026,” she said.

The spokesperson emphasised that the National Dialogue remains committed to “advancing a shared national vision rooted in accountability, social justice, democratic participation and ethical leadership”.

“The National Dialogue remains fully committed to constitutional values, democratic participation, accountability, dignity and social cohesion. The process further places particular emphasis on ensuring that communities historically excluded from formal policy and decision-making spaces are meaningfully included within the national conversation.

“The Steering Committee therefore calls upon all sectors of society, including communities, civil society organisations, organised labour, business, youth formations, academia, faith-based institutions and broader social partners, to actively participate in shaping a credible, solutions-oriented and citizen-led National Dialogue process for the future of South Africa,” Tengile said. – SAnews.gov.za

0