Pretoria – Government has recommitted itself to a clean, accountable public service on Public Service Day, says Minister of Public Service and Administration, Lindiwe Sisulu.
Today, 23 June has been declared by the United Nations as Public Service Day. The day is aimed at acknowledging dedicated public servants.
The minister said in a statement that the South African Government would like to recommit itself to building a clean, accountable public service where public servants in all three spheres of government are committed to meeting the expectations of the people and exceed them.
Sisulu said a number of initiatives were being implemented to build a clean accountable government, from the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the banning of public servants from doing business with government and the School of Government to train and produce a dedicated public servant cadre.
“On this 2013 United Nations public service day l call on all South Africans to join us as we intensify our fight against mal administration and corruption, set new standards for the public service and transform the public service into an efficient system for implementation of the National Development Plan.”
She called on South Africans to “recognise all hard working public servants across all spheres of government, who patrol our streets when we are sleeping, teach our children and look after us in hospitals when we cannot look after ourselves”.
The minister added that the South African public service had achieved a lot since 1994. She said many of the basic needs of the people have been met, from water, electricity and roads but a lot still had to be done.
“As we approach 20 years of our democracy l would like to commit all public servants to work hard and fast track service delivery.”
The minister called on all South Africans to report bad and low standards of service to authorities.
“South Africans must refuse bad service, they only deserve the best service. I call on all South Africans to report public servants across all spheres of government who do not follow Batho Pele principles and also engage in unethical and corrupt activities.
“South Africans must be our partners in building a clean accountable government,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
