ENSURING PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PERSPECTIVE L.B. MGENGO 28 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, 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