19 October 2007

By Edwin Tshivhidzo

THE Public Service Commission (PSC) is calling for the discontinuation of the common practice of electing public servants as full-time or part time councillors.

PSC Chairperson Professor Stan Sangweni said although there was no clear legislation requiring public servants elected as full-time or part time councillors to resign, it recommends discontinuation of such practices.

Public servants were expected to dedicate their energy and time to the public service and stay committed in the execution of their duties, he said, adding that they should consider "... the partisan responsibilities that go with holding political office."

Sangweni said a concern, mainly centred on the ability of such public servants to perform in both environments, has been raised about the election of public servants as councillors in municipalities and has been brought to the attention of the PSC.

In accordance with its mandate, the PSC conducted an investigation into the management of public servants who were elected as municipal councillors following the 2006 municipal elections.

The investigations conducted in Limpopo and the Western Cape, revealed there are 340 public servants elected as municipal councillors, 124 are female and 216 male.

According to Sangweni, the investigation also revealed those elected as municipal councillors did not inform their departments of their election as councillors.

The investigation also disclosed that teachers formed the largest number of people elected as councillors.

According to the PSC, "not in all instances were public servants informed by departments' human resources components of the provisions and conditions that regulate their participation in municipal elections."

Some public servants elected as municipal councillors, the PSC said, "did not request and obtain approval from the Executing Authority to perform remunerative work outside the public service as is required under the Public Service Act, 1194."

The PSC also recommended that departments must ensure that:

• the details of all public servants employed by the department in general, and those elected as municipal councillors in particular, are recorded accurately on PERSAL;
• liaison takes place between the relevant departments and municipalities to ensure that details in this regard are captured in a comprehensive manner, promptly and correctly; and
• information about public servants elected as municipal councillors is updated on PERSAL, should changes in the employment relationship occur such as resignations and transfers.

The PSC is an independent and impartial body created by the Constitution in 1996, to enhance excellence in governance within the public service by promoting a professional and ethical environment.

Source: BuaNews