IN-DEPTH: Firing directors-general wilfully destabilises public administration
Scopa chairman and governance experts agree cadre deployment blurs the lines of accountability and undermines service delivery, writes Bekezela Phakathi
The growing trend of sacking directors-general and other public servants at odds with their political principals raises questions about whether the government remains true to its stated intention of building a stable and professional senior management as envisioned in the National Development Plan (NDP). Themba Godi, the chairman of Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), says the changes in leadership at departments create instability and undermine the fight against corruption. "How will leaders of departments apply themselves when they know their tenure is not guaranteed?" he asks. "We need continuity … this affects service delivery and the effective utilisation of economic resources. We need political maturity." Frequent changes of directors-general and other managers makes it difficult for MPs to have meaningful engagements with officials. Some are removed or appointed on the eve of a department’s appearance before a parliamentary committee, says Godi. "We ca...
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