Departments directed to ensure officials enrol for compulsory ethics in course

The NSG developed the Ethics in the Public Service online course in collaboration with the Public Service and Administration Department and the Public Service Commission.

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has directed government departments to ensure that officials enrol for the compulsory Ethics in the Public Service online course offered by the National School of Government (NSG).

The NSG developed the Ethics in the Public Service online course in collaboration with the Public Service and Administration Department and the Public Service Commission. 

The course is part of a compulsory suite of courses that seek to professionalise the public service as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2019 State of the Nation Address.

“Ethical conduct and organisational integrity are keys to eradicating fraud and corruption in public service and administration. As the training arm of government, it is therefore imperative that NSG implements a training programme that will equip public officials with the skills and competencies to make ethical decisions, to develop organisational integrity, to prevent fraud and combat corruption in the public sector,” said the Minister.

Section 195 of the Constitution of South Africa envisages a public service that will promote a high standard of professional ethics. 

The DPSA says it envisages that through providing ethics training it will give effect to this constitutional principle and enable the state to function more effectively.

“This course is relevant for employees in the public service at all levels as it will help them understand the revised code of conduct outlined in chapter two of the regulations as well as serves as a tool for ethics officers to institutionalise ethics standards within their organisations,” said the Minister. 

More specifically, the content of the course will enable officials to:

Reflect on their own values and behaviour in the workplace;

Recognise common areas of ethical dilemmas for public service employees;

Apply the core ethical values and standards contained in prescripts which have relevance for the conduct of employees in the public service, and Uphold and promote Professional Ethics in the workplace. 

The course is open and available at no cost to the government departments. For self- registration and enrolment, public servants should do the following:

Go to the NSG website (https://www.thensg.gov.za/).

Click on "Open eLearning courses" under the eLearning tab on the NSG website.

Follow the on-screen instructions to register an online profile (if they have not done so yet).

Enrol for the Ethics in the Public Service Course. If officials have forgotten their username and/or password, use the “Forgotten your username or password?” link on the login page.

Officials can also contact the eLearning Helpdesk at eLearning@thensg.gov.za for assistance.

Enquiries by those wishing to enrol may be directed to Ms Petunia Matsapola petunia.matsapola@thensg.gov.za or Dr Bunny Subedar bunny.subedar@thensg.gov.za.  

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)