Pretoria: The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) has approved the Public Administration Management (PAM) Bill, which seeks to stop public servants from doing business with the State.

Speaking during the debate on the Bill, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said by prohibiting officials from conducting business with the State, government was reducing the chances for corruption and unethical conduct.

“Corruption, unethical conduct and lack of integrity produce outcomes that not only harm society but undermine the very same progressive realisation of the rights we seek to achieve.

“The bill is long overdue; we could not delay it any longer. It is a framework legislation derived from section 195 of the Constitution, which defines how public administration must be managed,” she said on Tuesday.

The bill provides for the establishment of the Ethics, Integrity and Discipline Technical Assistance Unit to build a culture of discipline, integrity and ethical conduct in the public administration.

The bill also introduces the National Disciplinary Unit, which will support national, provincial and local government to deal with disciplinary cases effectively.

The unit will have trained prosecutors, charge drafters and investigators to ensure that cases are finalised as soon as possible.

The bill requires officials in public administration to declare the financial and business interests of their immediate family members.

It also aims to set up the Office of Standards and Compliance, and professionalising the public service through the National School of Government.

The bill also provides for the transfer and secondment of employees in public administration across national, provincial and local spheres of government.

It seeks to regulate the use of information and communication technologies in the public administration to improve service delivery.

Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said an effective service delivery required an efficient and accountable administration devoid of red tape, with strong anti-corruption and compliance measures.

“The drive towards coordinated government has been at the heart of government’s transformation and reform programmes for a number of years,” she said.

SOURCE: South African Official News