Cowater International-managed Strengthening Ethics and Integrity in South Africa Project (SEIP), funded by Global Affairs Canada (High Commission of Canada in South Africa), aims to increase the accountability, efficiency and transparency of the South African public administration in delivering gender responsive services to the public. This is accomplished through the provision of technical assistance to support the South African Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in the design and operationalization of a new specialized unit – the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Discipline Management Technical Assistance Unit (PA-EID-TAU).
In order to assist the Government of South Africa to measure its ethics climate in public administration and identify potential gaps that need to be addressed, SEIP supported The Ethics Institute (TEI) to conduct the 2022 Public Sector Ethics Survey. The survey is undertaken for a third time. It was previously carried out in 2015 and 2018, but for the first time the survey has managed to reach thousands of employees across the public sector. The objective of the survey was to collect information on gender and inclusion and ensure that responses inform an evidence-based review of the civil service Code of Conduct.
The launch of the survey took place during the National Ethics Forum, which brought together over 100 participants, including Ms. Yoliswa Makhasi, Director-General, Department of Public Service and Administration, Hon. Joyce Chitsulo, Member of Parliament, Malawi, H.E. Chris Cooter, Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa, Dr. Salomon Hoogenraad-Vermaak, Chief Director, PA-EID-TAU and UNODC representatives.
Chris Cooter, Canada’s High Commissioner to South Africa applauded the Government of South Africa’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity to tackle issues of ethics and integrity in the public service.
