NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
28 AUGUST 2009
978. Ms A M Dreyer (DA) to ask the Minister for the Public Service and
Administration:
1) Whether his department has developed and adopted a policy
regarding disciplinary procedures, including the application of
sanctions for the public service; if not, (a) why not and (b) when
will such a policy be adopted; if so, (i) when and (ii) where is
it available:
2) Whether his department keeps monthly disciplinary reports,
including case progress on transgressions of staff of the public
service, if nor, why not, if so,
3) Whether copies of such reports, including categories of
transgressions, are available for each month in respect of the
past three financial years up to the latest specified date for
which information is available, if not, why not , if so, what are
the relevant details?
NW 1184E
REPLY:
1) The public service developed and adopted, through collective
bargaining, the Disciplinary Code and Procedures for the Public
Service (Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC)
Resolution 1 of 2003). Some sectors such as the Educator and
Safety and Security sectors have developed their own disciplinary
procedures. The Disciplinary Code and Procedure for senior
managers is contained in Chapter 7 of the SMS Handbook as
determined by the Minister of Public Service and Administration.
The Disciplinary Code for the Public Service is available on the
websites of the Department of Public Service and Administration
(dpsa) and the PSCBC.
2) The legislative framework for the public service places the
responsibility for the management of discipline in the hands of
each individual department. Departments are therefore
responsible for keeping their own disciplinary records. The dpsa
does not keep monthly disciplinary reports for the public service.
3) We have started a practice wherein public service integrity
questions will be recorded and a quarterly report will be made
available. The first such report will be made available in
December 2009. I have already approached departments to supply me
with information regarding their discipline management profile.
(See Annexure A)