New recruitment scheme to make public service a career of choice

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The Scheme was approved by Cabinet last December in response to the recommendation of the National Development Plan (NDP).

The recommendation was that, for the government to achieve a professional public service, the State needed to be a Career of Choice.

This would be achieved only by attracting the best graduates and youth with potential to its employment service.

The department in a statement today said the scheme would form part of a high level dialogue with a number of stakeholders and will contribute to the rallying theme of the Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu centenary celebrations: “Be the legacy: Celebrating the birth of a world icon and a life of service”.

“As part of building the legacy, the dialogue will explore perspectives on Youth Development initiatives in the Public Service and interventions to promote the Public Service as a career of choice,” the department said in a statement.

The NDP proffered for the introduction of a Formal Central Graduate Recruitment Scheme, strengthen the talent pipeline for the Public Service’s future capacity, especially in scarce occupations and critical areas of service delivery.

The scheme is also anticipated to provide best-practice on existing graduate schemes in the public service and the principles for implementation across the public service, the department said. It is further expected to enhance the image, competitiveness and prestige of public employment in the labour market.

Among those expected to participate in the seminar are the various beneficiaries of various graduate programs in the public service. Final year students and other young professionals with an interest in the Public Service were also expected to attend.