Thank you very much, Chairperson. I also want to say thanks to all the speakers, because what you said confirms what I said earlier on that issues of Public Service reflect a journey we are all on. And I indicated that it is not a one person's journey, but our journey. What you said confirms exactly that. What I want to indicate before I touch on some of the issues that have been raised is that in this journey, as the ANC government, we confirm that we care, that we serve, that we belong. We are saying this not only in terms of the policies that we have set ourselves, but in terms of our own readiness to improve in areas where there is a need to accelerate service delivery.
You all spoke so well. Of course, in a debate you don't miss characters. It is like in a journey. The style of moving along in a journey differs; some will jump-walk, some will sprint, some will move in measured speed, some will lose concentration and some will get lost. [Applause.] But it all remains a journey, and I want to thank you for your style of participating in this journey.
I am not going to respond individually to all the things said here, but it is important to note and comment on some of the things raised.
Hon chairperson of the portfolio committee, Comrade Joyce, when you were debating here, I had one of my ears to you and the other ear to Minister Motswaledi. Minister Motswaledi raised a very important matter. Equally very important is what hon Rasool has indicated that we are actually in difficult times. We are dealing with situations where one's attention is at all times called upon to attend to some of the issues.
Hon Motswaledi reminded me that the deadline to close all issues relating to negotiations on implementation of Occupation Specific Dispensation is 30 June 2009, which is today. The bargaining council was about to facilitate a conclusion on the debate on the OSD for doctors. He said to me that he needs my voice. I need to say something on how we finally dealt with that issue, and I have indicated that.
Chairperson, I heard you when you were commenting on what the ANC considers a priority. I have translated that into a programme of action that we as government will implement as a priority. Hon Dreyer of the DA and hon Mohale of the ANC - interesting convergence - raised a very important point. They said that performance agreements need to be signed. We fully agree with that. They don't only need to be signed; they must be signed. They must not only be signed, but we must make sure that they are signed. If there is no performance agreement then there is no instrument to measure a person's performance. Therefore, there is no reason a performance bonus can be paid. That is why we cannot talk about pay progression where performance agreements are not signed. It is very difficult. We cannot even mention career progressions. Therefore, it is not an excuse and it is not an option. We want to indicate clearly that disciplinary actions must, and will, be taken against those whose responsibility it is to make sure that performance agreements are signed. [Applause.] And we want to indicate that this is not a threat. Those who want to see how we move when provoked enough, let them not sign performance agreements. Then they will know who we are.
With regard to the issues around the work that Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy does, hon member Msimang indicated that reskilling doesn't address the root cause. We fully agree. We have never indicated that we are complacent that reskilling alone is going to deal with these issues. As you will remember, Palama, in executing its mandate, is in partnership with about 15 universities that are participating, and some of these people who are said to be unemployed are graduates of these universities. That is why we are very sure and careful that we are not only looking at reskilling.
We have also indicated, like I said in my main speech when introducing the debate, that we are going further in terms of transformation of our training academy so that we'll see ourselves finally in a position, even if it means in an arrangement like a partnership with NGOs, where we are able to address those issues.
Mr Msimang you raised the issue of the Auditor-General's report and I indicated in my speech that we are considering that report, and that we will address the nation in no time. But let me indicate that we should not be too hasty to draw conclusions, because at the end of the day you might find that there are things that we still have to attend to, to actually validate the positions that are there and inform as to what kind of action to be taken. I think hon members will remember that not long ago a report like that was issued only to find that when you look at the reliability of data, for instance with Cipro, there is more that has to be attended to. For instance, if the code of conduct says you need to declare your financial interests, do you declare your financial interests even in situations where there is no financial benefit that accrues? That is some of the situations because dormant companies will be considered as active companies. I am not suggesting that we are going to treat that report as if it is not reflecting the truth. We will address those issues with full confidence. All that it says is that there are serious challenges here, in terms of compliance with the code of conduct, and therefore we will insist that steps be taken where they need to be taken.
I am not sure hon Msimang, but you raised the issue about some areas in KwaZulu-Natal where public servants who are alleged to be corrupt are transferred from one section or one department to another. We will be very happy to be given details about that. If that happens, it will be in violation of the Public Service Act as amended. It is very clear in terms of how we deal with issues.
Well it is true; it might be too early, though, hon Msimang, to disagree with the single Public Service. Actually when we say we will be finalising the Bill, we mean the Bill on Public Administration Management, which is the Bill that deals with providing a seamless arrangement that harmonises conditions of service across the spheres and facilitates mobility of skills from one sphere to another. This doesn't mean that when that day comes, there will no longer be local government, municipalities, provinces, and the like. But, it is too early to agree or disagree. We are waiting for those who want to raise their issues. We will come to Parliament to address them.
Well, hon Van Schalkwyk said that we are far from Batho Pele. If we had enough time at some stage, maybe we would have indicated how far we are. Having raised that question, maybe her response to that question would assist us to deal with this thing. As far as we are concerned we may not have enough time to explain everything. If you say Batho Pele, amongst other things, says we must be accountable to the people and we must give them feedback in terms of service provision, there are izimbizo taking care of that. If you say we need to involve people when we do planning, go to municipalities. When they do their Integrated Development Planning, IDPs, they go through a process of consultation. If that means we are far from Batho Pele, maybe we need to be educated more about what Batho Pele is. I think we will engage further on that issue because I don't agree that we are far from implementing that.
You were right, hon Rasool, when you said that some of the issues that make our life a little bit challenging as the Ministry of Public Service and Administration are when people who are appointed to do essential work find themselves actively involved in activities that lead them to neglect even patients. It can't be accepted. Of course, we know there are people who believe in the Afrikaans idiomatic expression that says: "agteros kom ook in die kraal" [slow and sure wins the race.] Maybe they believe it is a catch-up programme; it is for them to participate in stuff like that.
I am raising these things because while on the one hand we are doing all it takes to finalise and find a solution to deal with issues related to OSD implementation, on the other hand people are taking to the streets and neglect patients. Then you ask yourself, when we speak of professional ethics, which side and chapter of the book are they reading? We will engage on that. We will deal with some of those issues; actually we have started.
Hon Rasool, you were right to say that a developmental state is on course as you have indicated what a developmental state is. But we may not be in a position to go point by point and say you said this, we say this. That was just a confirmation that together we have to assist to make sure that our Public Service is on course, and as Members of Parliament we assist by making contribution because that is what we have been assigned to do.
As the Department or as the Ministry of Public Service and Administration, as we commit ourselves to respond to all the issues raised, to further lead this portfolio in a manner that we attain the objective of a developmental state, we do so, as I have indicated earlier on, believing that we have public servants who are hard at work; who are equal to their task; and who are committed to take us through. They have done that and they have demonstrated that over the last 15 years. Of course, where there are rotten apples we are also there to take them out as soon as we identify them.
We will achieve all these because we have support from the following entities, and I want to comment slightly on this: the DPSA will continue to do internal strengthening because we actually do transversal functions where we assist in areas such as policy implementation, monitoring, co- ordinating organisational designs and leading e-governance programmes. We believe that in these three areas we will be able to move with speed because what we believe in is not only what we say, it is not only what we commit ourselves to do, but it is how far we move in implementing that. We believe that we will move. That is why we want to thank Director-General Prof Levin and your team for leading us in dealing with these issues.
The Public Service Commission also plays a very important role and we want to salute them for being a partner for good governance in this country. Of course, a special salute goes to Prof Sangweni who, I have indicated, is leaving the Public Service at the end of his term, which is today. After he has served his term - you know Public Service commissioners serve a maximum term of 10 years, but Prof Sangweni served a term of 15 years. Well done, Prof! [Applause.] Of course, we may say a lot of things, Prof, but I do not think I can thank you enough for what you have done. My message is in this book. I will hand it over to you. It is all about you. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
In conclusion, I want to acknowledge Palama, the Centre for Public Service Innovation - by the way, they have just got an award for being the best in leading excellence in finding solutions that work, a United Nations award that has been awarded to them on the 23rd. [Applause.] We want to say thank you very much. We also want to thank the Government Employees Medical Scheme, Gems, and lastly the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority, PSETA. I see the PSETA board is around here. Thank you very much. We care, we serve and we belong. Amandla! [Power!]