The Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent oversight body established in terms of chapter 10 of the Constitution, 1996. Although, its powers and functions were enacted in the Public Service Commission Act, 1997, this institution has been in existence since the early 1900’s. As an institution which was birthed during an era wrought with injustice, inequality upon a labour law framework which barely existed as the concept is understood today, the PSC played a leading role in the management of the public service. The influence of the Treasury, Governor-General and socio-political forces throughout the 1900’s negatively impacted the manner in which the PSC was effectively able to exercise its’ powers and functions. Subsequent thereto, the rise of staff associations and their concerted effort to be party to matters pertaining to the employment relationship, placed the PSC in a precarious situation which created the perception that the PSC was a “toothless organization”. Although the PSC has since transitioned significantly in that many of the functions it performed are now exercised by the Ministry of Public Service and Administration, today, this perception is still as real as it was in the 1970’s. The primary purpose of this treatise is to provide a historical background to present time, depicting the role undertaken by the PSC and whether the perception of being ineffective in the administration of the public service, remains. The researcher will provide a distinction of the nature of grievances dealt with by the PSC and other alternate dispute resolution bodies, with specific attention being drawn to the methodologies applied in the execution of its mandate relating to labour relations and personnel practices, and the overall bearing it this has on the effective administration of the public service. In the conclusion it is submitted that the powers and functions of the PSC may extend to directions, advice and recommendations (unenforceable), however in comparison to other dispute resolution bodies, these powers and functions are centred around the promotion of constitutionally enshrined values and principles. PSC prides itself in the fruits of its labour as it is able to make a far greater impact by investigating root causes of grievances and redressing systemic issues, emanating from yesteryear to date. It is therefore submitted that as a result of different methodologies applied in comparison to other dispute resolution bodies, the highly administrative processes embarked proves far more thorough and effective and as a result cannot be compared or perceived to be ineffective. Lastly, it is submitted that the co-operative rather than adversarial approach embarked upon by the PSC is befitting for a young democratic country where impact-driven bears far reaching results, extending over the public service administration at large. To this end, the researcher refutes the misconception that the PSC is a toothless, ineffective organization which no longer plays a meaningful role within the Public Service Administration.

M.Phil. (Labour Law & Employment Relations) / The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is a security-oriented institution and one of its constitutional mandates is to keep offenders in safe and humane conditions until they are lawfully released. Employment relations are fraught with inevitable conflict because where there is more than one human being it follows that it (conflict) will surface. Hence, conflict leads to grievances. This study was intended to achieve the following objectives: - to conduct a literature investigation on grievance handling procedures in the DCS -to conduct an empirical investigation into employees' perceptions of grievance handling procedures in the DCS -to formulate recommendations for guidelines for the use of management III improving grievance handling procedures in the DCS According to the DCS's annual report of 200412005, more than half of the grievances lodged (54.98%) during that time were not resolved. This should be cause for concern for any organisation, especially one like the DCS where each and every employee needs to be at his/her best in terms of commitment and the employer should in turn have the leverage of trusting them (employees) all. Through the research questionnaire, this study gave employees an opportunity to interact with the researcher with a view to providing some guidelines for improving grievance handling in the DCS. Similarly, the study provided the researcher with an opportunity to find out from the respondents what, in their view, needs to be done to improve grievance handling in the DCS…

South African labour laws have undergone tremendous amendments before and after independence. This paper focuses on the development after independence, therefore section 34 of the Constitution of 1996, provisions of the Labour Relations Act of 1995 and other laws which deal with labour matters and regulate the labour relations and disputes in the country will be considered. The labour laws in South Africa provide inter alia for the dispute resolution mechanisms, the manner on which disputes should be handled by different organs which are empowered to do so. My focus will be to see how alternative disputes resolution processes of conciliation and arbitration in the Eastern Cape Province aim to transform the South African and global labour market by promoting an integrated simple, quick but efficient and inexpensive dispute settlement services in order to reduce the back log of cases, maintain labour peace, promote democracy at workplace with the view of advancing economic and social justice.