field of Public Administration, Public Management and Governance – not only here in South Africa but around the globe,” said Professor Mpedi. Perspectives on
Leadership, Policy, and the Future of Governance
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Group Corporate and Shared Services, Councillor Loyiso Masuku, who was also part of the panel, said it was a privilege for her to address the attendees on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.
“One of the interesting things is that a war has recently been fought between Iran, Israel and the US without boots on the ground – just 4IR. So much destruction has been committed – both to humans and properties, as well as to countries as a result of this great capability that now resides in our hands. These shifts are not just shifts in technology, they are transformations in how people live; how we relate to one another and how governments serve. In 2011, I served as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, and we introduced a modernisation programme. The goal was simple and yet profound – it was to transition the Department of Home Affairs from a slow paper driven bureaucracy to a secure, digital and professional institution. We sought to bring more technology-driven processes both for the citizens and public officials. This vision was rooted in data modernisation. Not just to streamline Home Affairs services but to anchor a wider e-government architecture. Imagine a society where a child’s birth certificate not only registered their existence but triggered integrated support from departments such as Health, Education and Social Development,” he said. Other featured speakers on the day were, Dr Tshepo Feela: National Commissioner, National Planning Commission; Dr Dumisani J. Jantjies: Director, Parliament Committee; UJ Professor of Practice, Dr Lebohang Liepollo Pheko: Commissioner, National Planning Commission; Dr Nakampe Michael Masiapato: CEO, Border Management Authority; Ms Angela Mokasi: Director of Operation, JMPD; Commissioner Vusimuzi Mavuso: Gauteng Public Service Commission; and Ms Margret Molefe: Executive Deputy Chairperson, The South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA). These speakers discussed a range of topics that included the Professionalisation of the Public Sector, the Future of Public Management and Governance in the 4IR and the Sustainability and Governance Impact. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A and reflection session, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers, share personal insights, and reflect on their own journeys in public management. This final segment was co-facilitated by Dr Lesedi Senamele Matlala and Mr Chris Kayembe, both alumni of the School, whose contributions helped bring the event full circle by c onnecting past academic experiences with current public service realities. Professor Uwizeyimana then delivered closing remarks, thanking the guests, alumni, and broader community for their continued support and commitment to the School’s vision. To watch the whole event, please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9a1QWwi B0&t=7825s
“The City of Johannesburg is a dynamic and evolving space. We have just below 2.5 million young people under the age of 35. We have a youthful population in the city, and this is a demographic reality that we grapple with because of a lack of opportunities and access to them. We always look to empower our young people, and youth development for us is very important – it is not just a campaign but rather a deliberate long-term programme which we have. We enforce it through policymaking in the city and targeted programmes. A criticism of the government has been opportunities not reaching the necessary groups who need them. In the financial year which has passed, we were able to host a number of programmes on the green economy, and we also looked at partnerships with external partners for bursaries,” she said. Professionalisation of the Public Sector facilitated by Prof Nel-Sanders Featured speakers included Dr Mmusi Maimane, Founder & Chairperson, One South Africa Movement, who said it was important to hold those in leadership positions accountable. “It is very difficult to professionalise the public service until you think hard about how to professionalise the political service. If it is true (according to global research) that people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers, it becomes profoundly difficult for a graduate to feel they work within an administration where the political leadership cannot have an appreciation of the complexity of the work that they have to do,” said Dr Maimane. “In practical terms, I chair the Committee on Appropriations, which deals with the South African budget and I don’t want to impute the integrity of any of my colleagues but the work that the committee itself has to do has to do with fiscal framework, future planning of the country and so invariably, what ends up happening is that you get a professional cohort of people who come and make submissions and then you can end up having a revolving door of PowerPoints. So, if we are going to achieve this idea about the professionalisation of the civil service, we have to think hard about those who we’ve deployed to public leadership and ask ourselves what skills and competence they bring to the job,” he added. The Future of Public Management and Governance in the 4IR On how we reshape the state to be effective, ethical and relevant in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Dr Malusi Gigaba, Chair, Parliamentary Defence Committee, gave his reflections, saying the changes brought about by 4IR are not just futuristic, but present as well.
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ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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