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The Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF) has noted the announcement made by Acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi on changes to the municipal workforce which will see the delinking of the tenure of municipal managers from the five-year political term of local government with a sense of optimism.

The PPF has since 2020 been advocating for public servants’ appointments not to be linked to the term of office of elected public representatives such as Ministers, Premiers and Mayors as part of the strengthened professionalization framework for public service.

At a briefing in Parliament on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, Minister Nxesi detailed plans about the government's efforts to professionalise the public service to ensure the continuity of the municipal administration and improve service delivery.

President of the PPF Kashif Wicomb says: “Senior executives must not and cannot function at the behest of their political heads and must hold institutional knowledge and experience way beyond the five-year political term. While we accept that elected public representatives may be changed every five years or even earlier, continuity in the administration of a department and municipality is key. Continuity, experience, and relevant qualifications are key, especially in the State which is governed by a myriad of laws and policies.”

“State projects by their very magnitude have medium to long-term rollout plans, it is therefore imperative that Senior Managers who have initiated the projects must oversee these projects to their conclusion for efficient implementation and to ensure accountability. Senior Managers must in addition have the authority to advise their political principals and differ where necessary,” says Wicomb.

The PPF calls for swift adoption of the professionalization framework to ensure that there is uniformity in the conditions of services for HoDs and municipal managers.  

Issued by The Progressive Professionals Forum