17 Aug 2014

The public is not happy with the service offered by the public service despite principles, which advocate for an efficient and effective public service, says Dr Theophilus Mooko.

Speaking at the launch of the Public Service Charter pylon at Tlokweng Education Centre (TEC) on August 15, Dr Mooko said the charter represented a collective outlook and commitment to serving the public and defined the relationship with and attitude to the people served by public servants.

Dr Mooko, who was the acting director of the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), said the charter had eight principles of neutrality, accountability, transparency, freedom from corruption, regard for the public interest, due diligence, duty to be informed and continuity.

“If we were to embrace and live in accordance with these principles, we will become a world class public service that is efficient, effective, caring and responsive to local and global challenges,” said Dr Mooko.

He noted that it was common for customers not to be assisted on the basis that the system was not working, or there were no receipts. He said there has to be other options of offering services to customers in any situation, noting that the public service charter calls for continuity of service.

Furthermore, Dr Mooko said there was an outcry that public servants rebuke and ridicule customers, and that there was lack of respect for elders, lack of adherence to prescribed time schedules and staff absenteeism.

All this, he said forms the key 10 points highlighted by the government as some of the grey areas in the public service.

Known as the 10 points agenda, others include inconvenience and delays in accessing service, non-acknowledgement of receipts of correspondence, lack of redressal of grievances, inaction on reported cases of negligence by officials and increasing corruption in government offices.

“Today’s event brings hope that there are efforts that are being made to bring about change within the public service,” Dr Mooko said.He said the pylon should become a reminder and rallying point for all in pursuit of quality service delivery.

“The public will hold you accountable for your deeds as the pylon is a public declaration of your commitment to the people you serve,” he added. ENDS