Opening Address at the Council of the Build Environment Workshop | Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews

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“Making progress possible. Together.’

?I am sure you all hear these words on a daily basis. But I want to pause and focus on the last word in this phrase … Together.

Because together, we are united in a shared commitment. The City of Cape Town tagline, is not just a catchy phrase, but a mindset we must internalise in everything we do.

It is a deeper commitment to elevate the standards of our public service, to build a capable and collaborative government that not only delivers for its people but is also ethical, respected, and innovative. The Need for Professionalism in Public Service

Building on this commitment, it’s clear that professionalising our public service isn’t just a priority — it is a necessity.

For Cape Town, this initiative is central to our Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for 2022–2027, which envisions our city as a “City of Hope.”

But, we cannot build this City of Hope by ourselves. It requires shared ideas, shared financing, and, crucially, a shared vision that guides us toward our shared goals. This vision includes every aspect of our public service and all of those that form part of our diverse and fit-for-purpose administration. Our city’s future rests on six key pillars: Safety, Economic Growth, Basic Services, Housing, Public Spaces and Environment, and Transport.?

These pillars are the foundation to improving the lives of our residents, and creating a better Cape Town for all. A city that all of South Africa can look up to as a model of professionalism. And let me be clear: At the heart of this transformation lies our commitment to building a public service that is truly capable, professional, and dedicated to excellence.

The Imperative of Professionalism in Building State Capacity

Globally, there is a growing recognition of the critical need to professionalise state employees. This effort is essential for enhancing governance, ensuring efficient service delivery, and fostering trust in our public institutions.

In Cape Town, this means our focus must be on building state capacity through a public service that is well-trained, well-equipped, and accountable. Our workforce is not just a group of employees - they are the stewards of public trust. Their skills, conduct, and professionalism have a direct impact on the quality of life for all our residents.

To truly enhance our state capacity, it is crucial that we ground our efforts in ethical and transparent practices. This commitment is essential not only for professionalising our public service but also for fostering and maintaining public trust. Ethics play a crucial role in this framework, yet their importance is often underestimated. In today’s intricate world and within Cape Town’s complex ecosystem, the importance of ethical conduct in public administration is more crucial than ever.

Public officials are entrusted with the critical responsibility of acting in the public’s best interest while maintaining the trust of our citizens. This trust is built on our ability to meet the expectations for fairness, integrity, and equity that our residents hold.

To fulfill these expectations, it is imperative that we, as public servants, practice transparency and ethical decision-making in all our actions. By embedding professionalism with a solid foundation of transparency and ethics throughout every level of our municipal structures, we ensure that our public service remains not only efficient but also responsive and well-equipped to address the complex challenges facing our City.

Progress in Professionalising Cape Town’s Public Service

When we say we are professionalising our Public Service. It is not merely a box-ticking exercise. It is about improving the lives of all residents in our city. It is about our Shared Future.

It is about creating the City of Hope. This is what we have achieved to date:

1. Appraisal of the Current State of Registered Professionals: We have undertaken a comprehensive survey to evaluate the current landscape of professionals in the built environment. This appraisal helps us understand the skills we have and the gaps we need to fill, enabling targeted interventions that enhance our service delivery.

2. Portfolio Analysis and Skills Alignment: ?We have developed a model that aligns the skills of our professionals with the projects undertaken by the City. This ensures that the right expertise is applied to projects of varying complexity, enhancing project outcomes and resource utilisation.

3. Realignment of Job Titles and Competency Frameworks: We are redefining job roles and responsibilities to create clear career paths and establish specific competencies for our professionals. This not only boosts morale but also clarifies expectations and enhances accountability.

4. Training and Capacity Building: Professional growth is a continuous journey. We are committed to providing ongoing training, mentorship, and capacity-building opportunities. By investing in our workforce, we are investing in the future of Cape Town.

5. Compliance with Regulatory Standards: We are aligning our work with the Identification of Work regulations, ensuring that our professionals meet the necessary standards and are equipped to deliver high-quality services.

These steps have been crucial in driving this transformation and ensuring we are reaching our desired goals and outcomes.

But we know that there is still a long road ahead.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

While we’ve made significant strides, we must acknowledge that challenges remain on our path to a fully professionalised public service.

Addressing skills shortages, enhancing the retention of talented and dedicated professionals, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation are critical steps.

These challenges, though formidable, offer us the chance to redefine excellence in public service. By embracing a culture of unwavering commitment, investing in our people, and continually pushing for improvement, we can elevate our standards and set a new benchmark for public service. This journey is not a fleeting effort but an ongoing commitment to building a City of Hope that inspires and leads by example.

Collaboration is Key

?The success of our professionalization efforts depends on robust collaboration—not only within the City of Cape Town but also with statutory bodies, professional councils, and our valued stakeholders, including our citizens. By working together, we can build a talent pipeline that benefits not only Cape Town but the broader South African landscape.

We must support one another, share knowledge, and collectively drive excellence in our field. This unified approach will be key to achieving our goals and setting new standards for success.

Conclusion: Towards a ‘City of Hope.’

Our journey to professionalising our public service is vital to achieving our vision of a “City of Hope.” This endeavour transcends mere compliance and regulations. It is about transforming the way we serve our communities. It is about creating a public service that is skilled, ethical, and dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of our residents.

Let us continue to work together to foster a culture of professional excellence, attract and retain top talent, and ensure our actions align with our strategic vision. By doing so, we will not only enhance service delivery but also embed Cape Town as a leader in municipal governance and infrastructure management.

Thank you for your dedication, your commitment, and your shared vision for a better Cape Town. I wish you all a productive and engaging workshop, and I look forward to the continued progress we will make together.

Thank you.

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