Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Public Service Commission (PSC) Bill into law. The new Public Service Commission Act repeals the old Public Service Commission Act of 1997. President Ramaphosa stated that the new Act reinforces the government's determination to build a capable and ethical state.

According to South African Government News Agency, the President emphasized that the new Public Service Commission Act should be welcomed by public servants and citizens alike as a means to improve the lives of all South Africans and to enable growth through ethical and efficient conduct in the public service. He noted that while the Public Service Commission is a critical enabler of improved public services, it is incumbent upon all public servants to honor citizens in line with the Batho Pele (People First) principles and to view their responsibilities as tools of transformation. The enactment of the Public Service Commission Act during the annual Public Service Month should inspire renewed pride and ethics in the public service.

The PSC is an independent body established in terms of section 196(1) of South Africa's Constitution and is mandated to undertake monitoring and evaluation of practices within the public service. It can also investigate administration practices and service delivery failures in the public service. The Constitution mandates that the Commission is independent, impartial, and exercises its powers without fear, favor, or prejudice, advancing effective public administration and high professional ethics.

The new legislation regulates the procedure for appointing Commissioners by the President and establishes the Secretariat of the Commission to support its work. It strengthens the independence of the Commission as a constitutional institution and extends its mandate to include local government and public entities. The Act empowers the PSC to direct relevant authorities or individuals to report progress on implementing Commission decisions.

Furthermore, any person found guilty of obstructing the Commission in exercising its powers and performing its functions will face an offence, liable to imprisonment of up to 12 months or a fine of up to R50,000, or both.