The Public Service Commission, as you are aware, is mandated by the Constitution to promote professional ethics in the public service. In pursuance of this mandate, the Commission has engaged itself on own accord and/or on request from Cabinet, in a number of initiatives in the promotion of professional ethics and the fight against corruption. In doing so the Commission has formed part of strategic partnerships that involve all sectors of our society. Indeed some of the initiatives have come from the strategic partnerships, like the National Anti-Corruption Forum which is fast becoming a key role player in the combat and prevention of corruption. It is of utmost importance that there is visible commitment to engage with corruption in the public service and promote a professional ethos.
We are therefore grateful that Directors-General of all government departments deemed it fit to sign the Public Service Pledge at a meeting of FOSAD as a mark of commitment to leadership in leading the campaign for integrity in the public service and service delivery to all our peoples.
The Public Service Pledge itself emanated from the implementation of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Programme by the Anti-Corruption Co-ordinating Committee (ACCC). The motivation is to galvanize public servants across the country to pledge themselves to perform their tasks in the public interest and to do this with integrity, creativity and innovation.
It is perhaps appropriate to recall here one of the resolutions adopted at the Second National Anti-Corruption Summit held in March 2005 in Pretoria.
"To promote leadership in all sectors of society that is committed to the creation of a culture of integrity and to restore confidence in the fight against corruption."
I would like to believe that the signing of the Pledge this morning is indeed more than a symbolic creation of a culture of integrity in our civil service community.
After the signing of the Pledge by the Directors-General here today, it is of utmost importance that this commitment be cascaded downwards to all officials. You are committing yourselves to that task this morning.
It may be fortuitous that the "International Anti-Corruption Day" will be celebrated on the 9th December 2005. It will be appropriate for departments to use this annual event to obtain the commitment of all staff members in line with the Pledge. You can plan a launching event on that occasion for the Department or the Province, where Heads of Department can sign the pledge also.
Thank you once again to FOSAD for the opportunity afforded us today for this signing ceremony. May the commitment of today become a burning flame not only for the Director's-General gathered here today, but for all the staff in the respective departments. Only then will we begin to realize the principle of Batho Pele - putting the public interest first!