Importance Of Professionalism In The Public Sector

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PROFESSIONALISM IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR One of the basic values and principles governing public administration enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 Chapter 10 is that a high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained in the public sector. The Public Sector has demonstrated the capacity to promote and implement ethical frameworks by maximise its results on this, it has improved its cooperation with the private sector and civil society. Resulting from this the Public Service is now working to a National Anti-Corruption Programme (NAP) which was adopted by the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF). (Price, 2006; 152-156) Professionalism entails a high standard of work and adherence to certain standards and principles pertaining to specific work to be done. Professionalism embodies skills, competence, efficiency and effectiveness. The public sector is characterised by unprofessional and unethical conduct. (United Nations, 2000; 26-56) Professionalism and ethical behaviour ensure that the three spheres of government goals are achieved through efficient, effective performance of duties, the requisite for success being ethical conduct and professionalism on the part of the functionaries. Ethics refers to the standard which guides the behaviour and actions of personnel in public institutions and which may be referred to as moral laws. The modernisation of methods and procedures as well as technological progress is useless if the