Pretoria: It has been five successful years since the government introduced a compulsory pre-entry programme for individuals aspiring to become senior managers in the Public Service-the Nyukela (Step-Up) Senior Management Service (SMS) Pre-Entry eLearning course.
According to South African Government News Agency, the launch of the Nyukela programme in April 2020, offered by the National School of Government (NSG), marked a decisive move towards professionalising the Public Service and enhancing performance and leadership standards. The programme is mandatory for any government employee seeking promotion or for anyone outside the Public Service wishing to join the SMS. Completion and passing of the Nyukela programme are prerequisites for being considered for positions such as Director, Chief Director, Deputy Director-General (DDG), or Director-General (DG) in the Public Service. This initiative ensures that only candidates demonstrating the necessary competencies and mindset for optimal performance are appointed to leadership roles.
Since its inception, the Nyukela programme has seen 20,436 participants complete the course, equipping them with the skills needed for critical leadership responsibilities and demonstrating a commitment to professionalising the Public Service.
To further enhance inclusivity, the NSG is expanding the initiative to cater to various occupational levels. A tailored pre-entry programme for executive management levels 15 and 16, including DDGs, DGs, and special advisors to Ministers and other political executives, is set to be introduced. Currently, there is one Nyukela programme for all SMS members, but the new development will provide executive managers with their own programme. This executive Nyukela programme will incorporate more rigorous evaluations to ensure readiness for the complex demands of executive management leadership. Additionally, the NSG plans to extend the Step-Up approach to local government, state-owned entities, and security sector institutions.
As the Nyukela programme celebrates five years of success, the NSG continues to contribute to building a public service staffed by skilled, selfless, and honest professionals. Nyukela is part of a suite of compulsory programmes introduced by the NSG, with Cabinet approval, aimed at implementing the National Framework towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector. These programmes emphasize merit-based recruitment, appointments, and lifelong learning for public servants. They cover a range of areas including induction, ethics, performance management, supply chain management, financial management, re-orientation, and project management, across different salary levels within the Public Service.