/ 16 September 2003

Streamlined public service ‘remains a goal’

An integrated, streamlined public service at all three levels of the government has not been achieved yet but it remains a goal, said Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi on Monday.

Addressing the Senior Service Management Conference in Port Elizabeth, Fraser-Moleketi spoke at length on the problems facing government in South Africa.

”We cannot claim that the transformation of the public service is completed,” she said, but added that the creation of a single public service involving all three levels of the government was still firmly on the political agenda.

The goal of such a service would be the seamless and expanding delivery of government services throughout the country.

Although much progress had been made, said Fraser-Moleketi, there were still many problems to contend with.

Fragmentation and duplication of services would have to be overcome, and disparities in staff service conditions would have to be removed.

She urged the audience, as senior managers in the public service, to actively promote the integration of services. — Sapa