Why is the DG of DTI speaking at ANC's study group?
26 November 2015
This weekend the ANC is holding a workshop on foreign direct investment, sponsored by the law firm ENS, and scheduled to be broadcast live on SABC TV and radio. My colleague, Phumzile van Damme MP, questioned the legitimacy of the SABC choosing to broadcast this event. Further to this, all of the adverts for this event indicate that the Director-General (DG) of the Department of Trade and Industry, Lionel October, will participate in this workshop and deliver a speech. This is completely inappropriate, and is not allowed in terms of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service.
The DA will request the Public Service Commission (PSC) to investigate the conduct of Mr October, in terms of the Code of Conduct for the Public Service set out in the Public Service Regulations, and in terms of Section 196 of the Constitution. I have also written to Mr October to advise him not to participate in the workshop, and to inform him of the consequences thereof. Should the Commission find him guilty of contravening the Code of Conduct, he shall be found guilty of misconduct.
According to the Chapter 2(C) of the Public Service Regulations (GNR.1 of 5 January 2001), all public service employees are bound by a Code of Conduct stating that all public servants will serve the public in an unbiased and impartial manner in order to create confidence in the public service; and that an employee does not use his or her position in the Public Service to promote or prejudice the interest of any political party or interest group.
Government officials, especially senior civil servants, need to be impartial. The fact that the DG is taking part in an ANC workshop, in his capacity as the D-G, is clearly inappropriate and compromises him as a public servant.
The DA does not object to civil servants being members of political parties. But the Regulations for the Public Service make it clear that members of the senior management of the public service must act totally impartially, must set an example to their subordinates in this regard, and must not act in any way that benefits any political organisation. Mr October’s presence and participation in this controversial research group shows a definite breach of these responsibilities.
Since the Public Service serves all citizens, public employees must not be involved in any matters which could be seen as favouring one group over another. The DA is committed to ensuring that all public officials remain impartial, observe the separation between the party and the state, and obey the applicable regulations.
Issued by Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, 26 November
