The IFP's Public Service and Administration spokesperson, Dr Usha Roopnarain MP, responded to matters regarding DPSA mentioned in the Budget Vote of the Presidency in Parliament today.

"The IFP notes that the President spoke at length about the challenges of public service and delivery: while the delivery of services is crucial, service delivery is slow. Coupled with this is the skills deficit - which is becoming very real. The real situation is that SA is fast losing skilled professionals. Community development workers cannot simply set in the shoes of managers.

"The IFP supports a cadre of committed professional, honest, hard working public service. How do we retain the best in the public sector? The Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi spoke about retaining the "cream of the crop". Surely current packages are not going to retain these professionals!

"The IFP believes that it has to start with real, tangible incentives. Better packages will equal to efficient and effective service delivery."