Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong Urges Public Servants to Recommit to Integrity and Excellence

Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong Urges Public Servants to Recommit to Integrity and Excellence, as he delivers a keynote address at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Public Service Day in Tshwane, emphasising the vocation of public service rooted in Batho Pele principles during the ongoing Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM) aimed at renewing commitment to ethical and responsive governance.

This call to action from Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong comes at a pivotal time for South Africa’s public sector, where challenges like corruption, inefficiency, and eroding trust have prompted renewed efforts to professionalise and revitalise service delivery. On Friday, 19 September 2025, Morolong addressed GCIS staff and stakeholders at the department’s headquarters in Tshwane, highlighting the transformative power of humble, empathetic public service. “Public service is not merely a job; it is a vocation rooted in the principles of Batho Pele, putting people first. This means our work is not simply measured by time on the job, but by the lives we touch and the positive change we create,” he said.

The event formed part of the government-wide Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM), observed from September 2025 to March 2026, which serves as a platform for introspection, renewal, and honouring dedicated civil servants. Morolong’s remarks drew on historical insights, quoting former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s 2004 words: “In a developmental State, the civil servant is professional, skilled, adequately rewarded but humble. Humility towards the poor is the greatest attribute of a civil servant.” As South Africa marks 30 years of democracy, this message resonates amid ongoing debates on governance quality, with recent Auditor-General reports exposing weaknesses in municipal audits and service performance across provinces.

The IPSM 2025 theme, “Renewing Our Commitment to Serve with Integrity, Accountability, and Excellence,” aligns with the seventh administration’s priorities under the Government of National Unity (GNU). Launched by Minister for Public Service and Administration Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi on 2 September 2025 at the GCIS offices in Pretoria, the month features a range of activities including executive site visits, public service charter dialogues, Batho Pele Excellence Awards, and community engagements. Buthelezi emphasised IPSM’s role as a “strategic call to action,” anchored on five pillars: visibility of executives in communities, responsiveness, professionalism and ethical conduct, trust, and citizen participation. “The launch of the Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM) 2025 is not a ceremonial event but a strategic call to action especially in the context of the 7th administration,” Buthelezi stated during the launch. These pillars aim to address longstanding issues like bureaucratic red tape and corruption, fostering a more inclusive and effective public service.

Morolong’s keynote built on this framework, portraying public service as a promise to act with empathy, listen with patience, and deliver responsibly. He highlighted GCIS’s unique position at “the intersection of policy and the people it is meant to serve,” stressing that humility towards the poor means disseminating information accessibly—in understandable languages and through trusted mediums. “For the GCIS, humility towards the poor means ensuring that the right information reaches the right people at the right time – in a language they understand and through a medium they trust. When the GCIS does its job well, we liberate citizens from ignorance, from uncertainty, from exclusion. We enable individuals and communities to claim opportunities – to apply for bursaries, to access grants, to participate in public consultations, to hold government accountable,” Morolong said. This aligns with GCIS’s mandate to bridge the gap between government and citizens, particularly in a digital age where misinformation can undermine trust.

The Deputy Minister framed IPSM as a “call to renewal” for all civil servants, urging introspection on whether programmes are responsive, inclusive, and impactful. “It is also a time for introspection. We turn the mirror on ourselves and ask the difficult questions: Are we truly living up to the ideals of service delivery? Are our programmes responsive, inclusive, and impactful reaching those who need them most? This self-reflection should help us to recommit to transparent, empowering communication that reflects humility and professionalism,” he emphasised. Morolong concluded by calling on public servants to lead in renewing trust through honest storytelling: “As public servants we must be at the forefront of renewing public trust by telling the South African story with honesty, courage, and purpose.”

This message echoes broader governmental efforts to professionalise the public service. The Professionalisation Framework for Public Service, gazetted in October 2022, mandates pre-entry exams, compulsory inductions, and ethical training to enhance skills and integrity. In Gauteng, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has launched initiatives like the Nasi iSpani 2.0 programme, enrolling 2,810 unemployed youth for training in trades to maintain infrastructure, reducing reliance on contractors. Nationally, the DPSA’s 2025/26 plans include digitising services to cut queues and corruption, with pilots in GCIS for online grant applications.

Public reactions have been positive, with social media users praising Morolong’s inspirational tone. On X, @PublicServantSA tweeted: “Deputy Minister Morolong’s call for humility in service is spot on – Batho Pele must be lived, not just said!” Others, like @CitizenWatchZA, urged action: “Words are good, but we need to see fewer scandals and more delivery.” The speech has drawn comparisons to Manuel’s developmental state vision, with analysts noting its relevance amid corruption probes like those in SASSA and local government.

IPSM’s activities extend beyond speeches, including spring clean-ups at service points, executive visits to frontline offices, and community dialogues. In Tshwane, GCIS hosted a Public Service Day event featuring workshops on ethical communication and citizen engagement. Similar events in other provinces, like KwaZulu-Natal’s ethics seminars, aim to build a culture of accountability.

Morolong’s address also ties into global trends, where public service renewal is key to post-pandemic recovery. The UN’s Public Service Day in June 2025 focused on innovation, with South Africa showcasing GCIS’s digital platforms. Locally, IPSM supports the NDP’s goal of a capable state, addressing AG reports showing only 34 clean municipal audits in 2023/24.

Ngwathe Municipality Refuses to Back Down, Heads to Supreme Court of Appeal

Download Here:

Direct PDF File Here:

https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Central-News-Issue-114-1.pdf

Read all our publications on magzter:

https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues

Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.

We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.

Advertisement:

To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za

For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za

Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za

General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za