On 19 June 2023, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) will launch weeklong national and provincial activities leading up to Africa Public Service Day (APSD), which is celebrated annually across the African continent on 23 June 2023.
The theme for the 2023 APSD is: “The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.”
APSD has been set aside and celebrated across the African continent to “recognise the value and virtue of service to the community”.
The APSD resolution was made at the inaugural Conference of African Ministers for Civil/Public Service (CAMPS) in Tangiers, Algeria 1994.
Directly or indirectly, the public or civil services on the continent play a crucial role in ensuring that inter-regional trade is well-oiled and that its benefits accrue to societies through taxes and government service delivery.
Nearing three decades since its promulgation, APSD is now an entrenched part of the African Union (AU) annual calendar of AU Member States, with selected countries hosting continent-wide festivities after every two years on a revolving basis.
The 2023 edition of APSD is the 9th biennial year for APSD continent-wide festivities, and this time around, Zimbabwe will be the host and the centre of continental activities, including workshops, panel discussions and exhibitions.
The AfCFTA-linked theme is in the tradition of using the APSD platform to ensure that interventions are developed in close synergy with key continental institutions and programmes.
The South African leg of the 2023 APSD celebration is organised under the auspices of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Office of the Premier.
The AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
National and provincial departments and Government components are expected to organise their own activities in the run-up to the Africa Public Service Day celebrations from 19 June to 23 June 2023.
The launch aims to foster collaboration and drive positive change in society by bringing together different stakeholders and highlighting the latest developments in the public sector.
Meanwhile, the government productivity improvement agency, Productivity SA, the secretariat of the Pan African Productivity Association (PAPA), lauded the Africa Public Service Day celebrations. PAPA is the African organisation tasked with providing a forum for promoting and sharing ideas and experiences on strategies, techniques and practices for productivity enhancement, accelerated economic growth and social development in Africa.
The Secretary General of PAPA and Productivity SA‘s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Mothunye Mothiba, says, “as we celebrate Africa Public Service Day, one of the key objectives of PAPA is to pave the way for more African countries to join PAPA. Zimbabwe, which will host Africa Day celebrations on 23 June 2023, is also a PAPA member.
The details for the launch, the Ministerial Outreach event and the week-long Africa Public Service Day are as follows, respectively:
Monday, 19 June 2023
Topic: Launch of the Africa Public Service Day
Time: 10:00 am Johannesburg
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PrTiEGQvQyyiA2wgIKGFng
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Tuesday, 20 June 2023
Topic: Ministerial Youth Outreach Programme, with Minister Noxolo Kiviet as Keynote Speaker:
Time: 09:00 am Johannesburg
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6V0NaGGiRICOMDiV9SPHWA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Friday, 23 June 2023
Topic: Addressing the Public Administration Impediments to Cross-Border Trade to Maximise the Benefit of AfCFTA Framework
Time: 09:00 am Johannesburg
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DHjgbc-dTOKNXp2ECBTHYA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Enquiries:
For general APSD related queries please contact Mr Moses Mushi, Communication Director, Department of Public Service and Administration, 0123361358, mosesm@dpsa.gov.za.
For queries specific to the AfCTA, please contact Mr Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations, The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, (012) 394 1643, BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
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