If an employee makes a suggestion, improvement or innovation of exceptional value to the department or the public service as a whole or has exceptional ability, a special qualification or has rendered meritorious service, other than the service recognised in terms of the department's performance incentive scheme, to the department or the public service as a whole—
| (a) |
the State shall have the right of use of any such suggestion, improvement or innovation; and |
| (b) |
the executive authority may, only as provided for in a directive issued by the Minister, reward the employee through— |
| (i) |
a non-monetary reward; |
| (ii) |
a non-pensionable cash award not exceeding 20 per cent of the employee's pensionable annual salary; or |
| (iii) |
such a non-monetary reward and a cash award. |