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Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has called on public servants to use 2014 as the year of excellence within the public service as the country marks the 20^th anniversary of democracy.

“The year 2013 has been challenging yet rewarding as we established the National School of Government and tabled the Public Administration Management Bill  amongst other things to ensure that we have an efficient public service that is able to meet the needs of its citizenry,” said Sisulu.

The New Year poses a number of challenges for the public service as it will celebrate the 20 years of freedom added Sisulu.

“ I call upon all public servants to ensure that they celebrate this milestone by ensuring that no member of the public will come to any of our public institutions and go back without receiving help.”

Sisulu added that in the New Year her department will continue putting measures in place to ensure a fully fledged school of government aimed at improving skills within the public service.

“We will also push for the passing of the PAM Bill in Parliament as we realise that in order to achieve the public service that we seek to create the bill is a necessary tool in helping us achieve our goals,” she said.

Sisulu further called on members of the public to participate in the public hearings and ensure that their voice is heard.

In addition to this she said much was achieved through partnerships with various sectors of society on the objectives the department had set itself such as building a clean and accountable government and professionalisation of the public service amongst others.

“As part of the wage agreement reached in 2012 this year government together with labour signed the Service Charter aimed at improving services in the public service. Furthermore to address issues of compliance within the public service we established the Office of Compliance and Standards, which is currently doing work in the North West and Limpopo provinces,” she said.

The past year also saw the rolling out of E-disclosure system in partnership with the State Information Technology Agency across all national and provincial government departments.

The fight against corruption, she added remains one of the greatest battles that government will continue being involved in until is completely eradicated.

Sisulu also commended public servants for the hard work that they are doing in various departments and institutions.