Submission on the draft Public Service Regulations (GG No. 48104 dated 24 February 2023)

The submission argues that several proposed amendments to the Public Service Regulations undermine accountability and the fight against corruption. Key objections include the withdrawal of prohibitions on public servants doing business with the state and the removal of reporting obligations for executive authorities. The authors propose strengthening oversight by requiring the publication of organizational structures and human resource plans on department websites, increasing prohibition periods for employees dismissed for misconduct, and ensuring the Auditor-General is notified of law enforcement referrals.

• The authors oppose the withdrawal of clause 13(c) of the 2016 Regulations, which prohibits public servants from conducting business with any organ of state, noting that this withdrawal contradicts previous government statements on fighting corruption.
• The submission rejects the proposed deletion of regulation 21(2)(d), which requires Heads of Department to report annually to the Minister on identified cases and steps taken; it further suggests the Minister should report these compliance levels to Parliament.
• The authors argue against proposed amendments to Regulation 29 and Regulation 35 that would remove the obligation of executive authorities to report to the Minister, suggesting instead that reports also be sent to Parliamentary Committees.
• To improve transparency and oversight, the submission proposes that organizational structures, approved establishments, and Human Resource Plans be publicized on department websites within 30 days of approval.
• The authors criticize the proposed revised Regulation 61 regarding re-employment prohibition after dismissal for misconduct, suggesting that prohibition periods should be 10 years for specific misconduct (items 1 to 9) and 5 years for others to ensure a sufficient deterrent effect.

APA

Public Affairs Research Institute (2023). Submission on the draft Public Service Regulations (GG No. 48104 dated 24 February 2023). https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Submission-to-DPSA-iro-draft-Public-Service-Regulations-dd-19-April-20237165.pdf

Chicago

Public Affairs Research Institute. Submission on the draft Public Service Regulations (GG No. 48104 dated 24 February 2023). 2023. https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Submission-to-DPSA-iro-draft-Public-Service-Regulations-dd-19-April-20237165.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Public Affairs Research Institute |title=Submission on the draft Public Service Regulations (GG No. 48104 dated 24 February 2023) |date=19 April 2023 |url=https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Submission-to-DPSA-iro-draft-Public-Service-Regulations-dd-19-April-20237165.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{publicaffairsresearchinstitute2023submission, author = {{Public Affairs Research Institute}}, title = {{Submission on the draft Public Service Regulations (GG No. 48104 dated 24 February 2023)}}, publisher = {Public Affairs Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = apr, url = {https://pari.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Submission-to-DPSA-iro-draft-Public-Service-Regulations-dd-19-April-20237165.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }