THE Cabinet has approved the draft Public Administration Management Bill, which will be published for public comment, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.
 
Ms Sisulu said the draft bill sought to create a uniform legal framework for human resources and other organisational and governance matters in national, provincial and municipal administrations.
 
"This is aimed at enhancing service delivery through a uniform system of public administration, improved utilisation of staff and the creation of a single door to government services for citizens," the minister said.
 
The Cabinet also approved the Public Service Commission (PSC) Amendment Bill for public comment. The bill aims to align the act with the constitution and empowers the PSC to give directions relating to the principles that govern public administration.
 
Ms Sisulu said the strengthened role of the PSC was in line with the stance adopted by the National Development Plan, which emphasises the need to professionalise the public service.
 

Plans for children, policing
 
The Cabinet has also approved the National Plan of Action for Children 2012-17, which will provide a comprehensive plan for all government departments and other entities to realise children’s rights, Ms Sisulu said.
 
The plan embraces the constitution, international and regional treaties, legislation, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and the National Development Plan.
 
Ms Sisulu said the plan had five main themes — the reduction of child mortality, child development, child protection from violence and sexual abuse, living standards and child participation.
 
The publication of the green paper on policing for public comment was also given the go-ahead by the Cabinet, Ms Sisulu said on Thursday.
 
The green paper deals with the problem of confronting crime in a democratic South Africa and how to position the South African Police Service to respond to the "evolving criminal landscape while simultaneously meeting the needs of the developmental state".