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Strictly controlled, skills-driven - More than 5 000 foreigners working in SA`s public service`Deputy director-general at the Department of Public Service and Administration Nyiko Mabunda told MPs the appointment of foreign nationals in public service was a highly regulated process. - The public service employs more than 5 000 foreign nationals, most of whom are from Zimbabwe and the Democratic

Source: Samigration, 25/02/2025

Strictly controlled, skills-driven - More than 5 000 foreigners working in SA`s public service`Deputy director-general at the Department of Public Service and Administration Nyiko Mabunda told MPs the appointment of foreign nationals in public service was a highly regulated process. - The public service employs more than 5 000 foreign nationals, most of whom are from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. - There are also foreign officials from India, Nigeria and Cuba. - According to the Department of Public Service and Administration, strict protocols are implemented in the recruitment of foreign nationals.South Africa`s public service employs more than 5 000 foreign nationals, most of whom are from neighbouring Zimbabwe.This is according to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), which briefed Parliament on Wednesday on the professionalisation of the public service and the employment of foreign nationals.The department`s deputy director-general, Nyiko Mabunda, told MPs the appointment of foreign nationals to the public service was a highly regulated process.The hiring process involves multiple departments to ensure national security, legal compliance, fiscal responsibility, and workforce protection.``The DPSA sets norms, standards, reforms, and policies, ensuring that foreign employment remains strictly controlled, skills-driven, and temporary. The Department of Home Affairs enforces the Immigration Act (2002) by regulating work permits, visas, and permanent residence. ``It ensures compliance with international agreements while restricting foreign employment to temporary contracts. It monitors and enforces deportation for non-compliance. The State Security Agency conducts security clearance and risk assessments, prevents foreign employment in sensitive government roles, and coordinates intelligence verification to mitigate risks such as espionage and data breaches,`` he said.Mabunda said there are currently 5 777 foreign workers employed in the public service. More than 2 100 officials are from Zimbabwe, and 755 are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.There are 383 officials from India, 367 from Nigeria, 271 from Lesotho, and 265 from Cuba.Mabunda said the Department of Employment and Labour ensures that foreign hires do not displace South African workers.This is done by enforcing the Employment Equity Act (1998) and the Labour Relations Act (1995).``Labour market testing is compulsory before approval of foreign employment, ensuring merit-based and justified appointments. The National Treasury regulates salary structures and public expenditure on foreign employment, ensuring alignment with budgetary policies and preventing fiscal mismanagement.``On a diplomatic level, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation formalises treaties, agreements, and secondments, ensuring skills transfer benefits South Africa while aligning foreign employment with diplomatic and strategic interests. The South African Qualifications Authority safeguards qualification integrity, verifying foreign credentials and enforcing professional registration,`` he said.The departments that employ the highest number of foreign nationals include the departments of health, basic education, higher education and training, justice and constitutional development, and water and sanitation.Public Service Commission (PSC) chairperson Somadoda Fikeni said a legal framework was under way to develop a database with a pool of technical experts for use in the public service and municipalities.``In addition, an invitation for experts to register on the database was finalised and extended to all registered professional bodies with assistance from the South African Qualifications Authority. The registration process is currently running (more than 700 persons/experts have already registered), but the finalisation and use of the database is dependent on the finalisation of key policy and regulatory measures by the DPSA for the public service (and Department of Cooperative Governance for municipalities),`` he said.Previously, the PSC reported that senior managers had poor levels of performance and skills, as well as insufficient attention to training, development, and nurturing of the senior executive corps.There was also an emphasis on generic management competencies to the detriment of technical skills and the idea that a person with management qualifications can manageÂ anything.``Deputy director-general at the Department of Public Service and Administration Nyiko Mabunda told MPs the appointment of foreign nationals in public service was a highly regulated process. - The public service employs more than 5 000 foreign nationals, most of whom are from Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. - There are also foreign officials from India, Nigeria and Cuba. - According to the Department of Public Service and Administration, strict protocols are implemented in the recruitment of foreign nationals.South Africa`s public service employs more than 5 000 foreign nationals, most of whom are from neighbouring Zimbabwe.This is according to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), which briefed Parliament on Wednesday on the professionalisation of the public service and the employment of foreign nationals.`4

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