BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government is strengthening public service efficiency and productivity through a management audit of employees’ academic qualifications and professional skills, an exercise aimed at improving workforce planning, employee placement and the utilisation of available expertise across ministries and departments.
The initiative, outlined in a memorandum issued to staff members by the Ministry of Agriculture on September 3, 2026, follows an August 19 memorandum from the Ministry of Public Service on the submission of updated Public Service Human Resource Qualifications and Skills Profiles.
The exercise seeks to establish an accurate and comprehensive database of public servants’ qualifications and skills, providing government with reliable information to guide human resource management and support evidence-based policy development.
Through the exercise, government aims to strengthen strategic workforce planning, develop a comprehensive skills and qualifications matrix, improve the appropriate placement of employees and enhance overall efficiency and productivity in the public service.
The audit is also expected to support succession planning by helping government maintain a clearer picture of the skills and professional qualifications available within its workforce.
In its communication to employees, the Ministry of Agriculture emphasised that the exercise forms part of the implementation of the Management Audit on Skills and Qualifications. It is intended to ensure that the information captured about employees’ qualifications and skills is supported by relevant documentation and that ministries and departments maintain accurate, up-to-date human resource records.
DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT ACCURATE RECORDS
All government employees were requested to submit copies of their academic and professional qualification documents to their respective Principal Human Resource Officers or Human Resource Officers by September 30, 2026.
The exercise particularly covers employees who have acquired additional qualifications since the previous exercise, those whose qualifications were not previously captured and employees whose records require updating.
The memorandum states that employees participating in the updating process must ensure that the relevant documentation is submitted. Human Resource Officers are responsible for receiving, verifying, recording and safely keeping the documents to update and maintain employees’ official personnel records.
This process places responsibility on the relevant human resource offices to ensure that the information collected is properly documented and securely maintained.
Importantly, employees are not required to travel to the Ministry of Public Service or submit their documents directly to the ministry. Instead, they are expected to submit the required documents through the established human resource structures within their respective ministries and departments.
This arrangement enables the exercise to be conducted through existing administrative channels while allowing the responsible officers to verify and maintain the relevant records.
BUILDING A SKILLS-DRIVEN PUBLIC SERVICE
The management audit reflects government’s efforts to strengthen human resource management by ensuring that decisions on workforce planning and employee placement are informed by accurate information about available skills and qualifications.
A comprehensive database can help government identify the expertise already available within the public service, determine areas where additional skills may be required and support planning for future staffing needs.
Maintaining updated personnel records is also important for recognising employees’ additional academic and professional achievements, ensuring that qualifications are properly documented and supporting a more systematic approach to managing the public service workforce.
The exercise further provides an opportunity for ministries and departments to improve the quality and completeness of their human resource information, which is essential for informed planning and the effective deployment of personnel.
The Ministry of Agriculture urged staff members to cooperate with the process, emphasising that its successful implementation is critical to government’s efforts to strengthen human resource management and ensure that available skills and qualifications are effectively utilised.
The memorandum was signed by Nhlanhla Motsa on behalf of the Principal Secretary and dated September 3, 2026.
Through the audit, government is seeking to build a more comprehensive understanding of the capabilities of its workforce, laying an important foundation for improved planning, productivity and the delivery of public services.
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(Courtesy Pic)
