Voorsitter, die Staatsdiens weerspiel die standaard van die regering se vlak van dienslewering. Sou dienslewering nie na wense wees nie, word die regering se beeld negatief gereflekteer. Alle Suid- Afrikaners sal graag met lof wil praat van die Staatsdiens, want dit is ons Staatsdiens.
Ongelukkig is dienslewering in die meeste staatsdepartemente nie op standaard nie. Trouens, korrupsie vier hoogty en die publiek het hul vertroue in die Staatsdiens verloor.(Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Dr H C VAN SCHALKWYK: Chairperson, the Public Service reflects the standard of the government's level of service delivery. Should service delivery not be as one would wish, government's image would be negatively reflected. All South Africans would like to speak highly of the Public Service, because it is our Public Service.
Unfortunately, service delivery in most government departments are not up to standard. In fact, corruption is rampant and the public has lost confidence in the Public Service.]
My colleague, hon Dreyer, touched on the Department for the Public Service and Administration and the Public Service Commission, so I will reflect on the Public Administration Leadership and Management Academy, Palama, and the State Information Technology Agency, Sita.
Palama should play a vital role in creating a climate of ethics in the Public Service. The eight Batho Pele principles endorse exactly such a climate. The implementation thereof, however, is crucial and a big challenge. In his response to a DA question, the Minister said that he has encouraged Palama to introduce capacity-building courses for public servants regarding knowledge of the Batho Pele principles.
Two courses are indeed being offered by the academy, namely the Public Service Induction Programme and Khaedu Action Learning. But, hon Minister, as the saying goes: the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Public servants must "eat" the pudding, otherwise the Batho Pele principles mean nothing. Widespread corruption in the Public Service proves that a commendable climate of ethics is lacking.
Daar is 'n teenstrydigheid in die gelyktydige bestaan van Palama en die "Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority" [Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens]. Kan Palama nie vaardigheidsontwikkeling en kapasiteitsbou akkommodeer en fasiliteer nie? Watter vaardighede, "skills", word deur Palama en watter word deur die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens geadministreer? Is dit nie duplisering wat teen ho koste geskied nie? Ek besef dat Palama op bestuursopleiding konsentreer eerder as op vaardighede in die algemeen, maar aangesien Palama deesdae meer 'n fasiliteerder as 'n diensverskaffer is, kan hy net sowel vaardigheidsontwikkeling ook fasiliteer.
Die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens is in elk geval nie funksioneel nie. In die 2008-09-jaarverslag, wat die komitee vanoggend ontvang het, wou die Ouditeur-generaal nie 'n opinie oor die finansile state uitspreek nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[There is a contradiction in the fact that Palama and the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority exist side by side. Can't Palama accommodate and facilitate skills development and capacity-building? Which skills are administered by Palama and which by the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority? Isn't this duplication taking place at great expense? I realise that Palama is focusing on management training rather than skills in general but, since Palama is more of a facilitator than a service provider these days, it may just as well facilitate skills development as well.
In any case, the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority is not functional. It is clear from the report the committee received this morning that the Auditor-General didn't want to make a pronouncement on the financial statements in his report.]
A disclaimer of opinion ...
Die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens bestaan vanaf 2007, maar kan nog bitter min wys wat bereik is. Die departement blyk ook nie erns met die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens te maak nie, want onderbesteding van die begroting - slegs 39% is gebruik vir program 2, "Human Resource Management and Development" - is deels te wyte aan oordragte wat nie aan die Sektorale Onderwys- en Opleidingsowerheid vir die Staatsdiens gemaak is nie.
Die Staatsinligtingss-tegnologie- agentskap, Sita, is 'n verleentheid vir die Staatsdiens en vir u, agb Minister. Bedrog en korrupsie vier hoogty in hierdie staatsagentskap. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority has been in existence since 2007, but it can show precious little of what has been achieved. The department also appears not to take the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority seriously, because underspending of the budget - only 39% was used for Programme 2, Human Resource Management and Development - was in part due to transfers not being made to the Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority.
The State Information Technology Agency, Sita, is an embarrassment for the Public Service and for you, hon Minister. Fraud and corruption are rampant in this government agency.]
Since the Minister has not yet responded to all my written questions, maybe I can use the opportunity today to get clarity on two of those serious questions.
Nearly a year ago you were reported to have received a 613-page risk assessment report that exposes large-scale corruption and procurement irregularities within Sita. Did you indeed, Minister, receive this report? If so, why have you not yet responded to the findings of the report? Will members of the portfolio committee, at some stage, have access to this report?
Surely, as Members of Parliament who have an oversight role to play, we are entitled to have access to the information. Sita's procurement processes are in dire straits, and corrupt officials do not comply with procurement rules. Surely there must be consequences for corrupt officials. In his state of the nation address, the President was very adamant that corruption in all spheres of government will be eradicated. It is now time for action, sir, more than ever before.
Turnaround strategies - and there I agree with hon Williams - have become common practice these days. What about such a strategy being applied to Sita as well? I am glad that there may be one.
The second matter concerns the cancellation of the R5 billion to R6 billion tender to issue smart identity cards for the Department of Home Affairs. The board of Sita decided to cancel the deal after leaks to the industry emanated from Sita - in other words, corruption and irregularities, once again.
You have recently indicated to me that the subject is still being investigated and that you foresee that the matter will be concluded by June this year at the latest. I know that yesterday the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs was yesterday briefed on an audit which was done to establish the reasons for the cancellation of the tender. Do you know anything about this audit, Minister? Whom was it done by?
I attended the Budget Vote debate of Home Affairs last week. I can assure you that speaker after speaker expressed their dismay and frustration with Sita's failure to produce. Sita has let South Africa down; they let the many honest public servants down; they let you down, Minister.
Voorsitter, ek moet afsluit. Ons Staatsdiens weerspiel tans nie die gees van die baie voortreflike Batho Pele-beginsels nie. Daar is te veel amptenare wat hulleself eerste stel, en nie die mense vir wie hulle moet dien nie. Die DA se beleid van 'n oopgeleentheid-samelewing vir almal bied aan u die enigste oplossing in hierdie benarde situasie: elke aanstelling in die Staatsdiens moet op meriete alleen geskied - en hierdie meriete, Minister, sluit integriteit in. Daar moet gekyk word na die geskikste persoon vir elke pos. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Chairperson, I have to conclude. Currently, our Public Service doesn't reflect the spirit of the commendable Batho Pele principles. There are too many officials who put themselves first, and not the people whom they are suppose to serve. The DA's policy of an open opportunity society for all offers you the only solution in this critical situation: every appointment in the Public Service should take place on merit only-and these merits, Minister, should include integrity. Look for the most suitable person for each position.]
The DA's concept of "fit for purpose".
Kaderontplooiing moet ten alle koste vermy word. Eers dan sal dienslewering in die Staatsdiens verbeter en sal Batho Pele tot sy reg kom. Baie dankie. Thank you. Enkosi kakhulu. [Thank you very much.] (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Cadre deployment should be avoided at any cost. Only then will service delivery in the Public Service improve and will Batho Pele come into its own. Thank you.]