Public service move welcome but badly timed The government’s move to consult stakeholders about professionalising the public service is welcome, but comes at a very difficult time, the Public Service Accountability Monitor says. The PSAM was responding to the announcement by Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Senzo Mchunu, of a two-week public consultation process next month on this topic. In December the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service was published for comments. The Framework recommends that the public service be merit-based and insulated from party politics. Among the elements it proposes are critical to professionalising the service are pre-entry recruitment and selection within the public service; planning and performance management, and continuous learning and professional development.