​Lerato Mailoane
The provision of quality services and combating mismanagement, corruption are an integral part of the public service.This is according to Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo who was speaking at the launch of the 2021 Integrated Public Service Month (IPSM).
According to Minister Dlodlo, this year's IPSM is a reminder to join efforts to combat corruption, build the capacity of the State, fight the coronavirus pandemic, and provide quality services to people.
She said the public servants strive to emulate the ethos of resilience championed by Charlotte Maxeke and live out the best and finest values of public service. 
"Being a public servant is a noble calling and the greatest of all professions. The public service is not ours but belongs to the public.
"It demands dedication, selflessness, professionalism, commitment, and the utmost faithfulness to the principles and standards of Batho Pele, of "Putting People First", just as Ma Maxeke had enjoined us to do many years ago," Dlodlo said.
Dlodlo urged all to defend the country's freedom against the scourge of corruption that is eroding the democratic values and the dream of being a capable, ethical and developmental State.
"By fighting to end corruption, we guarantee our citizens access to equal and quality services to which they have a Constitutional right. An honest public service is competent, agile, innovative and responsive to the needs of all.
"In all our workspaces, we have to find innovative ways to manage the resources that the public has entrusted to us to deliver services timeously."
She further urged all public servants to fight corruption and build a capable, ethical and developmental State that puts people and their needs at the centre.
"I, therefore, call on you, as professional public servants, to step up and identify ways in which we can realise this citizen-centric Public Service that is the hallmark of a capable State.
"As the government, we recognise that a capable State starts with the people who work in it."
Furthermore, the minister spoke against nepotism where the practice of poorly qualified individuals being parachuted into management positions through political patronage.
"We cannot make this a country of freedom, peace and prosperity for all if service delivery is neglected by elected officials and public servants who believe that holding a position of authority is an opportunity for self-enrichment," the minister said.
This integrated approach to Public Service Month is important as it enables the ethos of a caring, responsive and capable public service to permeate through our country's entire public administration system as it responds to the needs of citizens.
This year's Integrated Public Service Month celebrations incorporate the celebration of all government programmes for the month of September. This includes Heritage Month, our National Police Commemoration day, Thusong Service Week, our contribution to World Clean-up Day, and Tourism Month. ​