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Public Service and Administration Minister, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, has called for the adoption of a mission oriented perspective that embraces complex challenges with diverse solutions.

“The key term in this theme is 'mission', which therefore means that our efforts must transition from the outdated, siloed approaches that address singular problems with singular solutions. 

"We must strive for a mission oriented perspective. This mission orientated approach must embrace complex challenges with a range of solutions,” Buthelezi said. 

The Minister was delivering the keynote address at the 18th CPSI Public Sector Innovation Conference being held in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday. 

The two-day conference, hosted by the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI), is being held under the theme: “Accelerating Transformation through Mission Oriented Innovation”. It is being attended by at least 350 delegates, 60 System Developers and more than 15 speakers.

The conference serves as a critical platform that will effectively advance the creation of a government-wide enabling environment required for innovation to thrive.

The objective of the conference includes exposing government officials and strategic partners, such as the youth, civil society and academia, to robust engagements and discussions around international trends and topical issues on public sector innovation and its unparalleled potential.

The conference is also aimed at presenting an ideal opportunity to assess the role and impact of mission oriented innovation as a tool for enabling the public sector to meet its targets of, amongst others, tackling poverty, unemployment and inequality in order to achieve Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It further aims to explore key elements for successful implementation and sustenance of missions to enhance service delivery, facilitate the sharing of innovative perspectives and practices that respond to government priorities for replication and mainstreaming, and demonstrate how high impact, award winning projects have positively impacted on service delivery.

Buthelezi told the conference that the term "mission" will guide their path as they address issues within the public service.

He said this approach resonates deeply with him, his office and the entire public service because every government department has its mission, which is guided by the UN SDGs, the African Unions’ Agenda 2063, the National Development Plan (NDP) and government's priorities, as outlined in the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP 2024-2029).

With a clear mission, a set vision, and aligned goals, the Minister emphasised that government is committed to driving inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and addressing the high cost of living.

“Most importantly, we aim to build a capable, ethical and developmental State.

“This conference arrives at a crucial time. As we implement the 7th Administration’s Medium-Term Development Plan, aligning our work with a mission oriented approach will help us confront public service challenges effectively. While our term is limited to five years, we must strive to achieve ambitious goals swiftly.

“Time is of the essence, and our mission timeline should deliver results within the first two years. Though this is a significant challenge, I am confident that with the expertise [we have], we can accomplish remarkable results quickly,” he said. 

Room for innovation

The Minister told the conference that the importance of innovation in improving service delivery cannot be overstated.

“With the CPSI at the core of government innovation, we can make a substantial impact in addressing service delivery backlogs and delays that undermine public trust in government,” he said. 

He further emphasised the importance of collaboration, stating that isolated work within government departments must come to an end. 

“The days of isolated work within government departments must end. We cannot have some departments advancing while others lag behind. It is unacceptable that service quality varies based on location.

“Our mission is to align Cabinet with our department’s mission, driven by the CPSI, to accelerate transformation through innovation in the public sector. Innovation must start at home, beginning with the Department of Public Service and Administration. We should use our department as a testing ground for new ideas before broader implementation,” he said. 

Buthelezi called for the acceleration of all innovations and a close monitoring of their implementation. 

He said the goal is to lead in public sector innovation by adopting a more integrated approach to addressing complex challenges. This, he said, will ensure that South Africans have a government that delivers effective service and a public sector dedicated to providing high quality services. 

Buthelezi highlighted that historical innovations like the CAT scan (that now saves millions around the world), the Dolosse (which holds back ocean swells at harbours), the Kreepy Krauly (a system which cleans millions of pools around the world), and the first heart transplant in Cape Town are a reminder of the impact of creative solutions born from dedication to solving problems.

“By emulating these pioneers, we can achieve great things through collaborative problem solving. Dr Christiaan Barnard’s success with the first heart transplant was a result of teamwork and collaboration. Similarly, our mission to enhance service delivery through innovation cannot succeed in isolation.

“Collaboration with the private sector and civil society is crucial for sustainable solutions to poverty, inequality and unemployment. Although no single solution will address all issues, many innovations from public servants may offer answers to our challenges,” the Minister said.

Buthelezi declared the conference a success, calling for joint effort to ensure that government serves all people effectively. – SAnews.gov.za

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