Proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) Submission of Public Comments

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) provides a submission on proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA). PARI supports the devolution of administrative powers to heads of department (HODs) and the creation of an administrative head of the public service to reduce political patronage and corruption. However, PARI argues that these powers must be balanced by a rigorous, multi-stage recruitment and appointment process involving the Public Service Commission (PSC) to prevent undue political interference. The submission also notes the absence of proposed tenure extensions for HODs and suggests strengthening rules against employees conducting business with the state by including beneficial ownership in the restrictions.

• PARI supports proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) that devolve administrative powers to heads of department while keeping strategic powers with the executive authority, and the expansion of the Director-General in the Presidency's role to include functions for an administrative head of the public service.
• PARI welcomes amendments to the Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) intended to standardize conditions of service to facilitate a single public service and the movement of staff across government spheres and public entities.
• To prevent political imperatives from influencing senior appointments, PARI proposes a four-stage recruitment process (process planning, process administration, short listing, and final appointment) where the Public Service Commission (PSC) manages planning and administration and chairs selection committees for short-listing.
• PARI observes that the proposed PSA amendments do not include extensions for the tenure of heads of department (HODs), despite recommendations in the National Development Plan and the Draft National Implementation Framework.
• PARI warns that the 30-day window for HODs to decide on an employee's request to perform outside work may lead to permissions being granted by default if HODs fail to act timeously.
• PARI suggests that PAMA amendments regarding employees conducting business with the state should be expanded to include beneficial owners or share holders of companies, rather than just directors, to prevent employees from being ultimate beneficiaries of state contracts.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (n.d.). Proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) Submission of Public Comments. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ACP_20210506_PARI_Submission_Legislative-Amendments-PSA-PAMA-v1.026.pdf

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) Submission of Public Comments. n.d. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ACP_20210506_PARI_Submission_Legislative-Amendments-PSA-PAMA-v1.026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) Submission of Public Comments |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ACP_20210506_PARI_Submission_Legislative-Amendments-PSA-PAMA-v1.026.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitutendproposed, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) and Public Administration Management Act (PAMA) Submission of Public Comments}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ACP_20210506_PARI_Submission_Legislative-Amendments-PSA-PAMA-v1.026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }