Correspondence from The Presidency dated 10 September 2003 addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly for the filling of vacancies in the Public Service Commission:

Madame Speaker,

Public Service Commission: Filling of current and impending vacancies
Five commissioners on the Public Service Commission are appointed by the President in terms of section 196(7)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996), following the approval of the National Assembly after a public notice process and a recommendation by a committee of the National Assembly (herein referred to as national commissioners).

The terms of of office of two national commissioners Mr J H Erntstzen (Deputy Chairperson) and Dr E G Bain will expire on 31 December 2003 and the term of office of Prof S S Sangweni (Chairperson) will expire on 30 June 2004. Currently there also exist two vacancies in the Public Service Commission for national commissioners.

In terms of section 4(1) of the Public Service Commission Act, 1997 (Act No 46 of 1997), I hereby request that five fit and proper persons, as contemplated in section 196(10) of the Constitution, be approved of as soon as may be practicable by the National Assembly in accordance with section 196(8)(a) of the Constitution to enable the filling of -

(a) the two current vacancies for national commissioners;
(b) with effect from 1 January 2004, the two vacancies for national commissioners, which will arise when the term of office of commissioners, Mr J H Erntstzen (Deputy Chairperson) and Dr E G Bain expires on 31 December 2003;
(c) with effect from 1 July 2004, the vacancy for a national commissioner, which will arise when the term of office of commissioner, Prof S S Sangweni (Chairperson), expires on 30 June 2004.

In view of the likely limited sittings in 2004 of the National Assembly and the 2004 elections, it seems advisable that the process in the National Assembly regarding the above-mentioned vacancies be finalised before the end of the 2003 Parliamentary session. I request that the names of the persons approved by the National Assembly be forwarded to me by the end of November 2003.

If further information or assistance is required from the national executive in this regard, please contact the Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms G J Fraser-Moleketi.

Yours faithfully
THABO MBEKI

Referred to Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration for consideration and report.