The South African Public Service Commission (PSC) has been given ‘essential service’ status, allowing the body charged with rooting out Government misconduct the right to operate during the COVID-19 crisis.
The PSC had earlier told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration that it was not listed as an essential service, which meant it was struggling to finalise complaints against errant officials.
Director-General of the PSC, Dovhani Mamphiswana (pictured) told the committee that during the lockdown, some of its officials were working from home, but many were “not up to speed”.
“As a result, the PSC will not meet its targets for the year and might not necessarily have all the engagements with the Departments it had intended to,” Mr Mamphiswana said.
Minister for Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu said he’d written to Chair of the PSC, Richard Sizani “clarifying that the Commission is in the category of Departments that are required to ensure, among other things, that Government business continues”.
After the Portfolio Committee meeting, the Opposition Domestic Alliance said the fact the PSC was not being regarded as an essential service was unconstitutional and threatened to launch legal action.
The PSC had suspended the lodging of grievances and complaints through walk-ins at its national and provincial offices after the declaration of the national lockdown by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March.
Complainants and other aggrieved parties were encouraged to use alternative means to contact the Commission.
Pretoria, 11 May 2020
