The Public Service Commission (PSC), the anti-corruption authority of South Africa, was established in terms of Section 196 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and is an independent body which is instrumental in promoting professional ethics in the public service.
The Constitution stipulates that there be a single Public Service Commission for the Republic of South Africa, consisting of fourteen members, five of which are appointed on the recommendation of the National Assembly. One member is appointed from each of the nine provinces, after nomination by the Premier of the province.
In terms of Section 196(4) of the Constitution, the functions of the Commission are to
- promote the constitutionally prescribed values and principles governing public administration in the public service;
- investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation and administration, and the personnel practices, of the public service;
- propose measures to ensure effective and efficient performance within the public service;
- give directions aimed at ensuring that personnel procedures relating to recruitment, transfers promotions and dismissals comply with the constitutionally prescribed values and principles;
- report in respect of its activities and the performance of its functions, including any finding it may make and directions and advice it may give, and to provide an evaluation of the extent to which the constitutionally prescribed values and principles are complied with; and
- either of its own accord or on receipt of any complaint -
- investigate and evaluate the application of personnel and public administration practices, and report to the relevant executive authority and legislature;
- investigate grievances of employees in the public service concerning official acts or omissions, and recommend appropriate remedies;
- monitor and investigate adherence to applicable procedures in the public service; and
- advise national and provincial organs of state regarding personnel practices in the public service, including those relating to the recruitment, appointment, transfer, discharge and other aspects of the careers of employees in the public service.
The Commission is accountable to the National Assembly and must report annually to the Assembly. It must also report on its activities in each province to the Legislature of the province concerned.
As part of its strategic aim the Commission brought different sectors together into the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) to introduce policies which address corruption within South African society.
