DSD ADVANCES TRANSFORMATION TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY

By Precious Mupenzi

• ⁠Minister Dina Pule called on senior officials to lead with integrity, accountability and compassion, to treat colleagues with respect, and to address poor performance fairly and consistently.
• Public Service Commission Commissioner Nancy Ngwenya said integrity and consequence management are essential to restoring public confidence and pledged the Commission’s support for the Department’s transformation.
• The Extended MANCO session is building alignment on the draft DSD Transformation Plan. Leaders were urged to consult officials, support them through the changes and build on the Department’s existing strengths.

Minister of Social Development, Ms Dina Pule, has called on senior managers to lead with service, integrity, accountability and compassion as the Department of Social Development (DSD) works to renew the institution and improve service delivery.

The Minister was speaking at the two-day Extended Management Committee (MANCO) Ministerial Transformation Plan Session, taking place at Southern Sun, Arcadia, in Pretoria from 6 to 7 October 2026. The session brings together senior officials to reach agreement on the draft DSD Transformation Plan, set a shared direction for the Department’s renewal, strengthen governance and turn transformation priorities into practical actions.

“Leadership must serve,” Minister Pule said. She urged managers to earn trust through their conduct, respect the dignity of others and create a working environment built on respect, support and professionalism. She warned against bullying and belittling colleagues, saying that leaders should never take out their own frustrations on others.

The Minister called on leaders to pursue excellence every day through clear responsibilities, capable officials, shared standards, measurable outcomes and continuous improvement. She encouraged managers to recognise effort and achievement, and to have the courage to deal with poor performance in a fair, consistent and constructive way.

Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner, Ms Nancy Ngwenya, reinforced the Minister’s message and described the session as an important strategic moment in the Department’s renewal. She said integrity, accountability and consequence management are essential to restoring public confidence, noting that misconduct and poor service delivery directly affect people’s lives and weaken trust in government.
Commissioner Ngwenya also clarified misconceptions about the PSC’s mandate, explaining that its role has expanded to include local government entities and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the Department’s efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery.

Deputy Director-General for Corporate Support Services, Mr Xolile Brukwe, said meaningful transformation requires clarity, consistency and proper consultation. In his opening remarks, he urged leaders to take officials’ concerns about the coming changes seriously and to make sure that staff are heard, supported and involved throughout the process.

Mr Brukwe stressed the importance of building on the Department’s existing strengths and the work of committed teams, while improving accountability, institutional capacity and change management.

Minister Pule encouraged innovation, continuous learning and collaboration across units, reminding managers never to lose sight of the people they serve. She described her vision of a department where leadership is trusted, systems work, officials are empowered, and everyone who uses social development services is treated with dignity, compassion and fairness.

The session forms part of the department’s broader effort to unite leadership around a common purpose and strengthen shared responsibility for implementing the plan. Renewal, the Minister said, must create an institution that officials are proud to work for and that serves communities effectively and with integrity.