By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Public Service Commission Bill into law, aiming to make South Africa’s public service more professional and ethical.
The new Public Service Commission Act repeals the Public Service Commission Act of 1997.
The bill was introduced in October 2023 but lapsed ahead of the 2024 National Election. It was revived in July with the new Government of National Unity (GNU).
It was passed by the National Assembly in March 2025 and received concurrence from the National Council of Provinces in May 2026, and was sent to Ramaphosa for assent.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent body established in terms of section 196(1) of the Constitution.
The commission is mandated to monitor and evaluate a wide range of practices in the Public Service and to investigate administrative practices and service delivery failures.
According to the Constitution, the commission is independent and must be impartial, and must exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice.
One of the commission’s key mandates is to advance the maintenance of effective and efficient public administration and a high standard of professional ethics in the Public Service.
Among other things, the new law regulates the procedure for the President’s appointment of Commissioners and provides for the establishment of the Commission’s Secretariat to support its work.
The new law also strengthens the Commission’s independence as a constitutional institution and extends its mandate to include local government and public entities.
The Act gives the commission the power to direct the relevant executive authority, or any other person against whom it makes a decision, to report on progress in implementing such decisions.
Any person found guilty of obstructing the commission in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions will be guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to penalties.
Penalties can include imprisonment of up to 12 months, a fine of up to R50,000, or both.
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