Over the course of time, public servants in our country have come to be in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

1. From the Deskof the President
Monday,06 September2021
Dear FellowSouthAfrican,
Overthe course of time,publicservantsinourcountryhave come to be in the spotlightforthe
wrongreasons.
We have become toousedtostoriesof civil servants involvedinmaladministration,embezzlement,
corruptionandother formsof conduct that betraythe valuesof the publicservice.
While muchismade of those thatare errant andunprincipled,the vastmajorityof publicservants
understandthe weightof responsibilitytheirpositionsentail,anddischarge theirdutiesfaithfully.
We have setourselvesthe challengeof buildingacapable,ethical state.We remainfirmlyoncourse
towardsprofessionalisingthe publicservice andtransformingitintoagroupof menand women
whoare able and committedtoservingourpeople andtheirinterests.
DuringthisPublicService Month,we paytribute tothe many publicservantswhocontinue tomake
a positive difference inourcountryeveryday,andwhose actionsandperformance embodiesthe
principle of BathoPele,of ‘puttingpeople first’.
Our fightagainstthe COVID-19pandemichasdemonstratedthatwe dohave capable andcommitted
publicservantswhodiligentlyserve the peopleof SouthAfrica.
Since the outbreakof the pandemic,civil servantshave displayedcourage andresilience in
dischargingtheirduties,oftenunderthe mostdifficultof circumstances.Despite the disruptions
causedby the pandemic,theyhave keptthe wheelsof ourcountryturningand have ensuredthat
service deliverycontinued.
Frontline healthpersonnel have made sure thatthe ill are attendedto.Membersof the SAPShave
continuedtoserve andprotectour communities.Teachershave continuedtocare for andeducate
our learners.Officialsingovernmentofficeshave ensuredthatourpeople continue toreceive
services.
We have learnedmanylessonsfromthe pandemic.COVID-19hasexposedthe chasmsbetweenthe
planningandexecutionof publicservicedelivery;andthe realityof governmentdepartmentsstill
workinginsiloswhentheyshouldbe workingtogetherinaseamless,development-orientated

2. manner.Atthe same time,COVID-19hasshownus whatispossible if we workina coordinated
mannerand manage resourceseffectivelyand efficiently.
At the launchof lastyear’sPublicService Month,Imade specificreferencetothe needfora new
integratedmodel forservicedeliverythatisresponsive,adaptive andbringsdevelopmenttowhere
it isneededmost.
Thisadaptive service deliverymodel,orDistrictDevelopmentModel,isexactlywhatthe BathoPele
White Papercompelsusto do:establishacitizencentredPublicService thatisseamless,adaptive
and responsive.
We call on publicservantstobe part of thisprocessbyidentifyingwaysinwhichwe canrealise a
publicservice focusedonmeetingthe needsandadvancingthe interestsof citizens.
Our commitmenttobuildingastate that is ethical,capable andabove all developmental
necessitatesthatcivil servantssee themselvesnotmerelyasstate functionariesbutasdevelopment
workers.
Thoughwe must continue inearnestwithourtaskof rootingout those whose conductmakesthem
ill-suitedforpublicservice,we mustatthe same time acknowledge the vastmajorityare exemplary
civil servants.Theyhave keptusgoing.
One speakshere of the grandmotherwhoisassistedwhenshe receiveshergranteverymonth;the
critically-illpatientinthe publichospital whoisnursedbacktohealthbycaring staff;the social
workerwhohelpstokeepfamiliestogether;the vulnerable womanwhoistreatedwithdignitybya
memberof the SouthAfricanPolice Service;andthe businesspersonwhoreceivestheir
documentationatthe Home Affairsoffice ontime totravel toexpandtheirbusiness.
The professionalismof thesehardworking,ethical andprincipledpublicservantskeepsourcountry
afloat,andtheirgoodwork bringshope toour people.
At a time whenshortcomingsinthe publicservice are amplifiedandbadnewsfallslike anavalanche,
we acknowledge ourpublicservantsof SouthAfricaandtheirservice.
It may be saidthat theyare justdoingwhattheyare paidto do.But publicservice isacalling – one
to whichtheyhave ablyrespondedinorderthatthe rightsof all people inthiscountryare fulfilled.

3. We are grateful to all our publicservantsandforall that theydo.
Withbestregards,
Cyril Ramaphosa