Transforming the public service to serve a diverse society : can representativeness be the most decisive criterion?

Abstract

The transformation of the South African public service to serve a diverse society \nis a reality. One of the most important criteria used to measure progress with \nthe transformation process, is representativeness. This article investigates \nwhether representativeness is a sufficient condition for transforming the South \nAfrican public service to render the best possible service to a diverse South \nAfrican society. Consequently, this article presents a conceptual framework \nas an instrument, first, to untangle the major transformation-related concepts \nin the public service and, second, to determine whether equality and equal \nopportunities can be achieved for all members of the diverse South African \nsociety, if representativeness is the most decisive criterion for public service \nemployment. This framework distinguishes between the ends of transformation \n(equality and equal opportunities), the various transformation interventions \n(affirmative action and diversity management), the subjects of these \ninterventions (designated groups and previously disadvantaged individuals), \nand the prerequisite conditions for these interventions (equity, justice, merit, \ndiversity and representativeness). The article concludes that equality and equal \nopportunities cannot be achieved for all members of the diverse South African \nsociety, should representativeness be regarded as a sufficient condition for \npublic service employment.

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