MIDDELBURG – The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, through its Oversight Committee on the Legislature and the Office of the Premier, hosted a public hearing on two key legislative amendment bills – the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill [B10B-2023] and the Public Service Amendment Bill [B13B-2023] – on May 7, 2025.
The hearing, held in the Nkangala District at the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, was chaired by Committee Chairperson Ms Trudie Grové-Morgan, who emphasised the Legislature’s constitutional duty to promote public participation, law-making, and oversight.
The session brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Office of the Premier, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Provincial Treasury, and officials from departments such as Education, Health, Social Development, and Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs. Local ward councillors were also in attendance, including Cllr Grace Mathibela, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Financial Services.
In her opening remarks, Grové-Morgan highlighted the importance of such engagements in building an inclusive and transparent democratic process.
“It is vital that the public plays a role in shaping legislation that affects their lives,” she said.
Rucita Amaidas from the DPSA presented a detailed overview of the Public Service Amendment Bill, which aims to enhance efficiency and accountability in the public service. Among other things, the Bill proposes:
•Transferring certain administrative powers from political office-bearers to department heads,
• Strengthening the role of the Director-General in the Presidency,
• Introducing mechanisms for salary recovery in cases of overpayment,
• Clarifying the Public Service Commission’s mandate in resolving workplace grievances.
The Bill also aims to:
• Regulate staff movement between departments,
• Prohibit public servants from doing business with the state,
• Formalise the National School of Government as a national department,
• And create uniform employment standards across the public sector.
Stakeholders present expressed general support for the proposed amendments, though some community members raised concerns about specific clauses and suggested revisions — demonstrating a healthy level of public engagement in the legislative process. The Provincial Legislature has been hard at work, extending public hearings beyond Nkangala District to also include communities in the Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande Districts. In addition to the two Amendment Bills, the Legislature is also gathering public input on the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, ensuring that communities across Mpumalanga have an opportunity to engage meaningfully with legislative processes that impact their governance and representation.
The Legislature will now consider all input received before finalising its position on the two Bills.
