By Fanelo Maseko | Loxion News Staff Writer
Johannesburg – The New South Institute (NSI) has taken a bold step towards professionalising South Africa’s public service with the launch of its inaugural residential workshop on Public Service and Administration, held at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) on 9–10 September 2025.
The two-day training programme brought together members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, equipping them with practical tools to strengthen oversight, deepen professionalism, and make governance work better for ordinary South Africans.
Led by NSI Co-Founder and Director Ivor Chipkin alongside Yoliswa Makhasi, the former Director-General of the Department of Public Service and Administration, the workshop went in-depth into the Public Service Amendment Bill — a crucial piece of legislation currently under consideration.
“South Africa cannot afford a public service weakened by politicisation and poor capability. This workshop provides practical tools to strengthen oversight, deepen professionalism, and make governance work better for citizens,” said Chipkin.
Reform at a Critical Moment
The workshop builds on the NSI’s long-standing work in public service reform. In July 2024, Chipkin briefed the committee on the urgent need to professionalise the public service, curb political interference, and improve state capacity.
This new training initiative turns that analysis into action, providing committee members with the knowledge and capacity to play a more informed and constructive role in shaping the Public Service Amendment Bill.
The Bill is expected to address key challenges facing government, including:
- Ensuring merit-based appointments for public administrators.
- Strengthening statutory authorities with recruitment powers.
- Organising administration to function effectively within a democracy.
Learning from Global Best Practice
The NSI programme drew lessons from countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and China — all of which have successfully built strong, professional, and politically independent state institutions. Examples from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya were also highlighted, showing how African peers are moving ahead with reforms that boost development and improve service delivery.
Separating Politics from Administration
A key theme throughout the workshop was the distinction between the “what” of government (political decisions) and the “how” (administration and implementation). This distinction, at the heart of the Public Service Amendment Bill, aims to prevent politicisation of public administration and ensure accountability.
Participants also shared first-hand experiences of the everyday challenges in public service, from schools and clinics to municipalities. There was broad consensus that “much is at stake” and that these reforms represent a historic opportunity to rebuild public trust in government institutions.
“We are putting in place the building blocks for historic transformation in the public service,” said Makhasi, who closed the workshop by sharing her own experiences from many years in government.
A Revolutionary Moment for South Africa
With MPs now better equipped to take informed party positions during the legislative process, the NSI hopes this training will be the start of a more capable, accountable, and citizen-focused public administration in South Africa.
