Report on Delivery to Women

20. PUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION

    Internal Achievements

• 49% of public servants are women.
• 37 women out of 265 are at senior management level (12% as opposed to 3% after 1994 election)
• 5 out of 25 Director-Generals/HODs are women.
• Women in service of government qualify for up to 84 days maternity leave on full pay, limited to 2 pregnancies.
• The Public Service makes some provision for the establishment of childcare facilities, which are privately run, but subsidized by government.
• The White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service aims to improve conditions of service for women and people with disabilities in relation to pensions, housing, flexible working time and childcare. The objective of equity in housing and pensions has been achieved as:
  • All women now qualify for a homeowner’s allowance irrespective of their marital status.
  • Pension discrimination has been removed: the employer’s pension contribution is equal for both men and women, and widow’s pensions are now spouse’s pensions to provide equally for the husband’s or deceased female’s relatives.
  • The retirement age for both men and women is now 65 years.
  • The Department has an affirmative action policy that affirms women in the public service.
  • The Public Service Act and Public Service Staff code have been amended and redrafted to reflect non-sexist practices.
  • Traditionally women within the public sector have been discriminated against. There are remaining inequalities in relation to entering the public service, representation of women in management, representativity of black women, conditions of employment, occupational categories, promotions and entitlements to benefits.

Achievements for South African Women

Policies and Legislation

• The Public Service has a critical role to play in transformation and service delivery. The department has embarked on an extensive process of restructuring. The restructuring involves various aspects, including, reducing the wage bill, creating a more efficient and streamlined service, devolution and decentralisation of managerial responsibility, ensuring that the Public Service is representative of the South African community and the introduction of more equitable pay and employment conditions.
• The White Paper on Affirmative Action within the Public Service expands on this aspect of transformation and details the steps to be taken to ensure representivity.
• The White Paper on Human Resource Management in the Public Service provides a new framework for Human Resource Management.
• The Public Service Act provides for the organisation and administration of the public service, the regulation of conditions of employment, terms of office, discipline, retirement and discharge of members of the Public Service. women directly, include:
  • Employee Compensation and Working Environment
  • Service benefits, compensatory practices and work facility practices
  • Working environment

  A head of department shall determine the working week and daily hours of work for employees and determine the opening and closing times of places of work taking into account the needs and circumstances of employees including family obligations and transport arrangements.