Deputy president Paul Mashatile has bemoaned political interference in government institutions and the high turnover of directors-general and heads of department, saying this erodes institutional memory, undermines policy continuity and dampens morale.
He was speaking at the government’s “roundtable dialogue on strengthening the political-administrative interface” in Tshwane on Friday.
The event was attended by cabinet ministers, premiers, organised labour, business representatives, and research and civil society institutions, among other entities.
Mashatile said effective government required more than good intentions.
“It demands functional systems, clear accountability and seamless co-ordination between those who set policy and those who implement it. It tells us what many of us have long known but perhaps not yet fully addressed,” he said.
He noted that “political interference” in administrative decisions across government and state-owned enterprises, “particularly in appointments, procurement and financial management”, created a precarious environment.
This made even the most qualified professionals hesitant to serve or unable to act with integrity, the deputy president said.
Opposition political parties such as the DA, which is part of the government of national unity, have spoken out against political interference in how the government is run, pointing the finger at the ANC’s discredited cadre deployment policy, which has often seen underqualified and inexperienced people being deployed to senior government positions on the basis of their political affiliation.
Mashatile said one challenge was that career public servants were being asked to carry constitutional mandates in spaces that lack stability, clarity or professional respect.
“The net effect of all these institutional weaknesses erodes the trust of the people, undermines investor confidence and compromises our stranding in the international community as it perpetuates the perception of a failing state,” he said.
“We believe that a capable and developmental state refers to a government that has the essential resources and skills to successfully execute policies that foster economic growth and enhance the wellbeing of its citizens. This requires a knowledgeable and effective public service, strong institutions, and a dedication to tackling the fundamental issues of poverty and inequality.”
A developmental, capable and ethical state “requires skilled managers, especially DGs [directors-general] and HoDs [heads of departments], with clear lines of authority and accountability to execute their duties in a way that achieves optimal outputs and agreed outcomes,” said Mashatile.
“This requires a political and administrative environment that is free from undue political interference, with effective systems, and with a consistent and fair application of rules.”
The government needed to deal with the scourge of corruption as it “jeopardises sustainable economic development, ethical principles and justice. Corruption, in both public and private sectors, erodes public trust in government and undermines service delivery, affecting the most vulnerable within society”.
The government was implementing a national framework towards the professionalisation of the public service to improve service delivery, address poor performance among senior staff and improve retention. The framework focuses on meritocracy, competency, impartiality and accountability, aiming to build a capable, professional and ethical government.
The framework, which was approved by the cabinet in October 2022, testified to the government’s commitment to improving the public service’s capability, he said.
“The establishment of the head of public administration is a significant milestone in stabilising the political-administrative interface and promoting merit-based appointment of department heads.”
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