STATEMENT BY DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION, IN RESPONSE TO PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA REPORTS ON THE FILLING OF POSTS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Issued by: SA Communication Service

31 July 1995

It was inter alia reported in the printed and electronic media today that all public servants will have to reapply for their jobs and that serving public servants who are reappointed will not automatically receive the same salaries as they did before. These reports unfortunately reflect a totally incorrect interpretation of information on the restructuring of the Public Service, and differs totally from public statements I have made in this regard on 28 July 1995.

The facts are that the measures to be followed by all Departments and Provincial Administrations in the filling of posts in the rationalised organisational structures of the Public Service were extensively consulted on with a large number of interest groups, including the 18 employee organisations admitted to the Central Chamber of the Public Service Bargaining Council during December 1994, after which I made a public statement on 28 December 1994 on the process to be followed in this regard.

This process basically entails the following:

• In terms of the Constitution the administration of the Public Service had to be restructured by amalgamating the 11 former public services of the RSA, TBVC states and the self-governing territories into one Public Service, comprising national departments and provincial administrations.
• Following this, uniform salaries, salary scales, allowances and related measures were effected for the whole of the new, unified Public Service in terms of section 236(4) of the Constitution, 1993, as specifically provided for in section 4 of the Public Service Act, 1994. Salary scales and allowances, which were lower than those generally prevailing, were brought on par with those generally prevailing. Pensionable salary scales and salary notches, which were higher than those generally prevailing, were protected in terms of the Constitution. Allowances, which were more favourable than those generally prevailing, were phased out completely by 31 March 1995. All other service benefits were rationalised by the Public Service Commission with effect from 10 June 1995.
• Certain public servants were granted the opportunity to voluntarily retire early with the intention of creating capacity to promote representivity in the Public Service, as well as to enhance the right-sizing of the Public Service. To realise the last-mentioned objective vacancies which result from this initiative will not automatically be filled.
• In accordance with the measures relating to the filling of posts in the rationalised structures of the Public Service, posts will only be advertised after the available human resources have been thoroughly considered and a compelling need has been identified to appoint persons from outside the Public Service, in order to promote representivity. Due consideration will, however, at all times be given to the objective of establishing a leaner Public Service. Whilst adequate provision has thus been made for the protection of the employment opportunities of serving officials, the measures also allow for the renewal and transformation of the Public Service to one which will be more cost-effective and representative of the South African community.

From the above it is thus quite clear that no new measures have been issued and that posts in the rationalised structures of the Public Service will only be advertised according to need. To further promote representivity in the Public Service a policy framework has also been consulted and agreed upon with the employee organisations admitted to the Central Chamber of the Public Service Bargaining Council and which is put into practice by means of special programmes, actions and measures recommended by the Public Service Commission. The above-mentioned incorrect reports have unfortunately strained the relations between the State as employer and employee organisations, which relations are founded on the principle of codetermination.

As far as the salaries of serving public servants are concerned, they are protected by both the Constitution 1993, and the Public Service Act, 1994.

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