Chairperson, the
Public Administration Management Act, Act 11 of 2014 was passed by the National Assembly in March 2014, and was assented to by the former President on 19 December of the same year. The Act was subsequently published in the Government Gazette on 22 December of the same year.
By giving you these dates I am attempting to clear away any perception that there were delays.
Despite being assented to in 2014, the Act was challenging to implement due to the nature of the provisions and the need for regulations.
So, on 1 April this year, the President, by way of a proclamation, operationalised 13 sections of the Act, including section 15 which established the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity, Disciplinary and Technical Assistance Unit, while sections 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 11 and 19 remain inoperational.
The sections that have not been operationalised either require regulation for proper implementation, or there are factors that indicate that an amendment of the Act is required. Therefore the delays in the establishment of the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity, Disciplinary and Technical Assistance Unit can't be attributed to any specific delay. Part of the role of the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity, Disciplinary and Technical Assistance Unit is to strengthen government oversight, ethics, integrity and discipline and, where necessary, in cases where systemic weaknesses are identified, to intervene.
This role is expected to build and support systems that already exist within the public administration to deal with corruption.
What has become clear over the past year as it is being revealed in the Zondo Commission is that the systems within government were blatantly disregarded and that, in some instances, persons who were
charged with ensuring proper governance failed to discharge those responsibilities.
The Public Administration Ethics, Integrity, Disciplinary and Technical Assistance Unit on its own will not remove corrupt elements within the public administration, but a combined effort, a strong system of governance and a public service cadre dedicated to professionalism and ethical leadership might. This unit will ensure that corrupt persons are sanctioned. This is a goal to which we are committed. Thank you.