(a) he will serve the State for a period specified in the agreement following the completion of all or any part of such course; and (b) should he be discharged from or leave the Public Service at any time during the course or before the expiry of the period specified in paragraph (a), he will repay to the State such amount as may be provided for in the agreement; and any amount referred to in paragraph (b) shall be a debt due by him to the State and may be sued for or otherwise recovered from him by the appropriate Minister. (5) Without derogation from the generality of subsection (1), conditions of service fixed in terms of that subsection may provide for the dismissal or discharge of a member of the Public Service— (a) owing to— (i) the abolition of his office or post; or (ii) a reduction in, or an adjustment of the organization of, a Ministry, department or other division of the Public Service; or (b) if the removal will facilitate improvements in the Ministry, department or other division of the Public Service in which he is serving whereby greater efficiency or economy can be effected. (6) Conditions of service fixed in terms of subsection (1) may provide that, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed upon them, members of the Public Service who have been found guilty of misconduct or who have been convicted of an offence may be ordered to pay compensation to the State, a statutory body, a local authority or any other person or fund in an amount determined under the regulations, not exceeding the amount of any damage to or loss of property arising out of or occasioned by such misconduct or offence. (7) Upon the making of an order referred to in subsection (6), the amount specified therein shall become a debt due by the member of the Public Service concerned to the State or to the statutory body, local authority, person or fund in whose favour the order was made, as the case may be, and may be sued for or otherwise recovered from the member concerned by the appropriate Minister or that statutory body, local authority, person or fund, as the case may be. 20 Consultations re conditions of service of members of Public Service (1) The Commission shall engage in regular consultations with recognized associations and organisations in regard to the conditions of service of members of the P ublic Service who are represented by the recognized associations or organisations concerned. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), conditions of service fixed or determined under this Act shall not be invalid solely on the ground that— (a) they were not the subject of prior consultation in terms of subsection (1); or (b) they were not agreed to by all the parties to any prior consultation in terms of subsection (1). 21 Persons under contract (1) The Commission, or the appropriate Minister with the concurrence of the Commission, may engage a person under contract, on such conditions as may be fixed or prescribed by the Commission: Provided that, if the effect of any such conditions would be to increase the fixed salary or salary scale applicable to any post or grade, the Commission shall obtain the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance. (2) There may be incorporated in the conditions referred to in subsection (1) such provisions of any enactment relating to conditions of service of members of the Public Service as may be considered necessary or desirable in the light of the nature of the contract. (3) Upon the expiry of the period of a contract entered into in terms of subsection (1), the person under contract shall cease to be a member of the Public Service unless the contract is renewed or he is appointed to the Public Service in some other capacity. 22 Rights of members of Public Service and other persons to remuneration and pension benefits Subject to this Act and any other law, a person shall have an enforceable right against the State for payment of any salary, allowance or other remuneration or any pension benefit payable to him in terms of this Act. 23 Member of Public Service seeking election to local authority (1) Upon application by a member of the Public Service who wishes to become a candidate for election to a local authority, the Commission may, by written notice to the member concerned— (a) grant him permission to seek election to the local authority; and (b) subject to subsection (4), declare that he has ceased to be a member of the Public Service with effect from the date on which the Commission grants permission in terms of paragraph (a). (2) Subject to subsection (3), where the Commission has made a declaration in terms of paragraph (b) of subsection (1), the member concerned shall cease to be a member of the Public Service with effect from the date specified in the declaration and shall be deemed—