DA calls for review of Public Service Regulations as public service employees continue to conduct business with the State unabated
18 February 2021
The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to urgently review the efficacy and effectiveness of the Public Service Regulations of 2016 (Regulations). This follows the shocking revelations made to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration (Portfolio Committee), on Wednesday, highlighting the lack of compliance and accountability in relation to these Regulations.
It was revealed to the Portfolio Committee that senior officials within the State Security Agency (SSA) having failed to submit financial disclosure forms as is required by Regulations 18 and 19 of the Regulations.
As at the due date, of 31 May 2020, the Public Service Commission (PSC) had received 98% of financial disclosure forms from members of the Senior Management Service (SMS) in the public service. However, 2% of the outstanding financial disclosure forms are attributable to the SSA. According to the PSC, when probed on its non-disclosure, the SSA indicated it was under the impression that its SMS members were exempt from making these financial disclosures as such disclosures may compromise the security of the country.
The DA rejects this weak excuse from the SSA, as the nature of these financial disclosures, are personal in nature and have absolutely no bearing on the work or mandate of the SSA. Clearly, the SSA senior management is attempting to evade transparency under the guise of ‘national security’.