STATUS REPORT ON BILATERAL RELATIONS

International and African Affairs

Chief Directorate

19 MAY 2014

Democratic Republic of Congo

(a)Background

1.On the 14th January 2004, a General Cooperation Agreement to promote political, economic, and social cooperation between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo was signed. The Agreement made provision for the establishment of a Bi-National Commission (BNC) as an annual forum for reflection on progress, exchange and dialogue.

2.In August 2004 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Joint Action Plan was signed between the Minister for Public Service and Administration and her counterpart in the DRC - Ministerfor Public Function. The scope of this cooperation is in the area of public administration where the Ministry of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) committed support towards the DRC public service transformation programme. Cooperation to date focused on the following projects:

3.Public Service Census: The overall objective of the DRC census project is to provide an employment profile of the public service including staffing numbers, gender, employment duration, age groups, and place of employment, occupational categories and grades. Additional benefits will be a credible payroll, identification of staff for retirement and information that could be used for future public service reform and human resource planning.

4.National School of Public Administration (ENA): The main objective of the project is to establish the Ecole National d’Administration (ENA), which would be an Academy for Congolese public servants, both operationally and in terms of a planned refurbishment of its current premises.

5.Anti-corruption:The overall objective of the project is to establish a comprehensive anti-corruption framework for the DRC that would enable the DRC to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption as well as the SADC Protocol Against Corruption. Implementation of the national anti-corruption framework will contribute towards fighting corruption and promoting professional ethics in the DRC. The purpose of the anti-corruption project is directly aimed at improving good governance and public administration by fighting corruption and promoting professional ethics.

6.In the area of anti-corruption a trilateral MOU between DRC, RSA and UNODC was signed on 18 February 2008. This trilateral agreement seeks to establish the DRC National Anti-Corruption Forum, develop the DRC Anti-Corruption Strategy, refining the Anti-Corruption Regulatory Framework, mobilisation of civil society, the media, the public and private sectors, enhancement of the Anti-Corruption Capacity of Investigators and Prosecutors – including training of presiding officers in respect of the revised anti-corruption legislation.

7.Administrative Decentralisation: The main objective of the project is to provide support to the DRC with process of drafting a legislative framework on administrative decentralisation. The legislative framework will provide the bases for the development of models for the organisation of provincial public administration, rationalisation and restructuring of the public service as well as the establishment of the process of transfer of public servants from central public services to the provincial public administration.

(b)Progress to Date

Public Service Census

  1. All provinces have been concluded to date.
  2. Census Projectwill handed over to the Government of the DRC during the tenth anniversary of RSA/RDC Bi-national Commission in 2014.

Anti –Corruption Project

  1. The achievements in this area include the review of the anti-corruption laws that was undertaken jointly by the Ministries of Justice and Public Function.Subsequent to that the National Anti-corruption Strategy was endorsed by Cabinet, and is to be submitted to Parliament for adoption.

National Public Administration Academy (ENA)

  1. The project plan for redirection of funds for refurbishment to capacity building was not approved because of non-compliance with the RSA Treasury Regulations and a new project proposal was submitted to the African Renaissance Fund (NRF) and the response from ARF is awaited.
  1. Subject to funding the project activity in this project will mainly be on the implementation of the capacity building projects with activities such as the training need analysis, training of trainers and the develop training modules for capacity building.

Administrative Decentralization

  1. During the last BNC it was agreed that the letter to transfer the Administrative Decentralisation project to the Ministry Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) would be sent by the MPSA to the Minister of COGTA. This was indeed done.
  1. However it has since been agreed that there was an initial misunderstanding about the “Administrative Decentralisation” project which led to transfer of this activity to COGTA. Therefore, there is need to reclaim the programme back to MPSA as it relates to decentralised functions of the Ministry of Public function, including human resources.
  1. The agreement under this project is to facilitate the transfer of the project back to MPSA. As part of this year’s activities it has also been agreed that study visits for Sharing of experience and benchmarking on decentralised human resource management will be facilitate by both countries.
  1. Emerging Areas of Cooperation
  1. During the recent BNC in October 2012 the two parties agreed to further extend the cooperation by introducing additional areas; namely:
  1. Government employee’s medical aid;
  2. Public Service Innovation;
  3. E-government, and;
  4. The establishment of the government employee’s pension fund.
  1. A Language Training programme will also be introduced in the next year for officials from both ministries.

Arabic Republic of Egypt

(a)Background

  1. In 2007 an MPSA delegation undertook a visit to Egypt for governance and public administration related knowledge exchange. During this visit the two Ministers agreed to cooperate in the areas of public administration. A draft work plan outlining broad areas of cooperation was agreedand theMemorandum of Understanding was signed in October 2008.
  2. The Memorandum of Understanding comprises of the following areas:

a.Government organizational restructuring

b.Government innovation and public administration reform

c.Electronic government including use of information and communication technology (ICT) throughout public sector, securing networking and data, and developing the local ICT industry

d.Business process re-engineering

e.Improvement of public service delivery and

f.Training of public officials.

(b)Progress to date

  1. There is agreement on the South African side that the MoU should be re- vitalised

Republic of Rwanda (Pending)

(a)Background

  1. A Memorandum on Understanding on cooperation in the fields of Public Administration, between Rwanda and South Africa, was signed in 2002. The MoU lapsed in 2005 with no implementation and progress on the agreed programme of action. Subsequently, the MPSA participated in the RSA-Rwanda Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC) convened in Kigali, Rwanda, wherein it was mutually agreed to reactivate the MoU processes for signature by the respective political principals.
  1. In the 5th JCC convened in South Africa in March 2009, parties from South Africa and Rwanda agreed to revise the draft MoU to ready it for signature by July 2009. It was agreed within the meeting that the respective political principles would meet by May 2009 to identify priority areas to be reflected within the revised MoU. As a result of the April 2009 government elections and change of administration in South Africa, the meetings could not take place within the envisaged timeframes.

3 In August 2009, the MPSA travelled to Rwanda to have a meeting with his counterpart. This meeting noted that the revised MoU arose from the overarching General Cooperation agreement (GCA) between the two countries covering a range of areas of mutual interest. The field of Public Service and Administration was identified as one of the key areas of cooperation within the (GCA). The two Ministers resolved to convene a follow up meeting in November 2009, Kigali- Rwanda, where the MoU would be signed. The meeting also resolved that the officials will work on a draft plan of action that will be discussed and finalised before the signing of the MoU.

  1. The senior officials meeting between South Africa and Rwanda was scheduled to take place in August 2010, however this meeting has been postponed to later October 2010.
  2. It was envisaged that the MPSA will participate at this meeting with a view to finalise the draft MoU as well as the Plan of Action. IAA will facilitate the process of consulting the different stakeholders within the MPSA portfolio with a view to finalise a draft plan of action.

(b)Progress to date

  1. The relationship with Rwanda was put on hold due to the recalling of the South African ambassador to Rwanda. Recently a letter was received from DIRCO advising DPSA to revive negotiations on the MOU in view of the stabilisation of relations between the two countries, resulting in the appointment of a new ambassador

Republic of Burundi

(a)Background

  1. In its contribution to this collective effort of strengthening and deepening collaboration with Burundi, the Ministry of Public Service and Administration met with the Burundian counterpart on the 12th October 2009. The meeting reviewed the draft MoU and confirmed the relevance of identified areas of collaboration. The meeting discussed strategic areas of engagement to assist Burundi in its Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development programme. This intervention was to further analyze and prioritize the needs of Burundi in particular in the area of Capacity Building and Training.
  1. As a result of these discussions, the MoU was revised in line with both parties’ desire to take advance the partnership into an implementation plan of action. In view of these premises, a Work Plan and an Action Plan have been developed to guide the implementation of the MoU. The Work Plan is Based on the following agreed areas of collaboration:

a.Signing of the Memorandum of understanding

b.Capacity building for the Advanced Management Training Centre

c.Transformation of the Public Service

d.(Service delivery)

e.Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development

  1. The envisaged signing of the MoU on cooperation in the field of public administration was 19- 20 November 2009 during a Presidential State visit by the His Excellency. Jacob Zuma to Burundi. The draft MoU revised according to the discussions with our Burundian counterparts and taken to Justice was sent to Burundi for concurrence on 28 October 2009.
  1. The State visit was then postponed for a later date and has yet to take place. In light of the postponement, it was undertaken to finalise all pending agreements including that on Public administration as challenges were being experienced with the exchange of correspondence with our counterparts. Many follow-ups on the matter were made. In January 2010, the DPSA sought to follow-up on the matter further with the South African Mission in Burundi.
  1. Correspondence from the Mission in March 2010, indicated that the receipt of the latest draft Agreements, in English and French from our Burundian counterparts. The documents are to be compared with that which was forwarded to Burundi in October 2009, and then forward the proposed changes for consideration for the attention of the Burundians.

(b)Progress to date

  1. Burundi country strategy has been developed.

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

(a) Background

1. Ethiopia has a long-standing relationship with DPSA in the area of governance and public administration. In October 2005, a 16 member delegation from the Ethiopian Ministry of Capacity Building visited the DPSA and other relevant government. Ethiopia showed keen interest on the South African public administration systems and concluded that it was important to share experiences and learn from South African. The delegation conveyed to their principals that exchanges with South Africa need to be strengthened both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

  1. In March 2006, the Ethiopian State Minister for Capacity Building Hon. Fikru Deselagne visited South African and met with various DPSA components, SAMDI, DPLG, CPSI and SITA. In August 2006, the DPSA hosted Senior Ethiopian government officials who had visited the Presidency where they interacted with Minister Essop Pahad and Rev. Frank Chikane: the then Director- General, Presidency. The Ethiopian officials also joined South Africans in celebrating the Women’s Day on the 9th August 2006. H.E Mr. Berhanu Adelo: Head of the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of the Cabinet led the Ethiopian delegation. This delegation was taken through several aspects of the South African Public Service delegation and they were particularly interested in Human Resource Management and Development issues. DPSA prepared a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was shared with the Government of Ethiopia.
  1. The following areas were identified for collaboration:

a.Exchange visits at ministerial and officials levels

b.Mutual exchange and secondment of experts for capacity development and joint research

c.Exchange of materials and information

d.Mentorships and exchange programmes to facilitate skills transfer

e.Human resource development and training of public officials

f.Co-operation between training institutes

(b) Progress update

  1. Draft MoU with Ethiopia has been pending for a number of years. Senior Officials from DPSA were keen to travel to Ethiopia in April 2012 for JMC to renegotiate areas of cooperation however they couldn’t attend because the Ministerial approval was not granted on time.During April 2012 JMC, Ethiopia committed to forward official communication on suggested amendments MoU through diplomatic channels.
  1. On the 15-16 November 2012, the 3rd Senior Official Meeting between Republic of South Africa and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was convened in Pretoria. The two parties agreed to continue to exchange views and comments on the proposed draft MoU through diplomatic channels. It was agreed that DPSA, once it has received the Draft Mou, will conduct internal consultations and will submit additional comments to the Ethiopian counterparts within six months.

Republic of Kenya

(a) Background

  1. DPSA officials attended Senior Officials’ Meeting on 17th March 2011 in Pretoria, DIRCO. It must be noted that this meeting was the first formal bilateral contact between the two countries in the field of public service and administration.
  1. Both sides agreed on the following:

a.Formalising cooperation by signing a MoU

b.JCC will provide platform to strengthen bilateral cooperation and initiate projects;

c.Exchange best practices through a study tour;

d.Exchange of experts and information to enhance service delivery;

e.Exchange of information and share best practice in on Strategic Human Resource Planning in the Public Service, Formulation and Implementation of Human Resource Policies in the Public Service and Attraction and Retention of professional staff; and

f.Explore opportunities for collaboration between PALAMA, Kenyan School of Government and South African counterpart.

(b) Progress update

  1. DPSA hosted Kenyan Salaries and Remuneration Commission on the 8th May 2012.
  1. DPSA received draft MoU from Kenya through diplomatic channels and after receiving the draft MoU the DPSA sent a letter through diplomatic channel proposing a Ministerial meeting to discuss the formalisation of bilateral cooperation. However, a response letter from the Kenyan side has not yet been received.

Republic of Zimbabwe

(a)Background

  1. South Africa and Zimbabwe agreed to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2007 with a view to deepen cooperation in the field of Public Administration. During the 4th Session of the Zimbabwe/South Africa Joint Commission held from 28 – 30 October 2012 in Pretoria, South Africa, both sides noted that there has been no activity since the Third Session of the Joint Committee that was held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 14 – 16 March 2009. The reasons for non-activity were due to the request by Zimbabwe to shelve the MoU until the completion of the transitional processes under way in that country at the time.
  1. During the JCC SOM of October 2012, Zimbabwe undertook to host a meeting of Technical Experts by March 2013 to revisit the draft MoU. However, the meeting did not materialise as agreed.
  2. Progress to date
  1. Mr. Ngoni Masoko, Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, has written to the Director-General proposing a meeting of Technical Experts on 10 – 13 March 2014 in Zimbabwe to allow both parties to restart the negotiations process with a view to conclude the MoU.
  2. The meeting didn’t take place due to Election in South Africa .The proposed dates for the SOM is June/July Senior government officials from both countries will also develop an implementation work-plan focusing on areas of collaboration and regularly review progress in the implementation of the said MoU.

LESOTHO.

  1. The MPSA has hosted senior officials from Lesotho on benchmarking visits on numerous occasions in the past. The previous significant one was in held in February 2013 when the head of delegation proposed the exploration of a structured engagement within an MoU framework. This proposition was made with the understanding that whilst South Africa and Lesotho enjoy cordial relations, there is no agreement between the MPSA and its Lesotho counterpart to formalise this strategic cooperation. The SOM dispensation presents a welcome opportunity to establish a formal relationship between the two Ministries.
  1. With a view to actualise the undertaking for formal relations between the two countries, the department hosted a delegation comprising senior officials from the Lesotho Ministry of Public Service led by the Head of the Department Mrs. Machabana on 13 to 14 November 2013. The interaction centeredondeepening bilateral cooperation in public administration between the two countries. This SOM process comes about following correspondence consultations between the two political principals who have sanctioned this engagement.
  1. During the visit, the meeting agreed that an MoU should be entered into between the two Ministries. The Parties agreed in writing to cooperate in the field of public service in areas such as but not limited to:
  • Performance Management System
  • Structures, Systems and Design of the RSA Public Administration
  • Ethics, Professionalism and Anti–Corruption Strategies in the Public Service
  • Public sector scarce skills retention strategies
  • Public policy development
  1. The meeting concluded with a recommendation that a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be submitted to respective principals for consideration and entered into force as soon as the respective principals have appended their signatures.

Progress update