The poor performance of many local governments in South Africa remains a major area of concern, with 163 out of 257 municipalities considered dysfunctional or in distress due to poor governance, ineffective financial and administrative management, and poor service delivery.
Despite these challenges, there is reason for optimism as the government is taking steps to address these failures and improve basic service delivery.
Too many of our municipalities, 163 out of 257, are dysfunctional or in distress due to poor governance, ineffective and sometimes corrupt financial and administrative management and poor service delivery. – President Cyril Ramaphosa
One of the key areas of focus is the professionalization of the public service, which is seen as critical to ending corruption, patronage, and wastage.
In response to the State Capture Commission and in line with the framework for the professionalization of the public service, integrity assessments are now a mandatory requirement for recruitment to the public service, and entry exams are being introduced. This creates a major opportunity for young and skilled professionals to enter the public sector and advance their careers.
The government is also taking steps to ensure that qualified people are appointed to senior management positions and to create a single, harmonized public service.
This presents a unique opportunity for young people to advance to senior positions, as the incompetence of older management is leading to vacancies that need to be filled by competent and capable individuals.
Furthermore, the government is taking steps to retire underperforming public servants, which will free up additional opportunities for young people to enter the public sector and make a positive impact.
By introducing mandatory integrity assessments and entry exams, the government is ensuring that only the most qualified and competent individuals are able to enter the public service and advance their careers.
In conclusion, while the poor performance of many local governments presents significant challenges, it also creates opportunities for young talent to enter the public sector and advance to senior positions.
The government’s efforts to professionalize the public service and retire underperforming public servants will go a long way in ensuring that the most qualified and competent individuals are able to make a positive impact and help drive economic growth and job creation in South Africa.
