South Africa’s public service: new laws aim to put competent people in charge and hold them to account

By Busani Ngcaweni, Director: Center for Public Policy and African Studies, University of Johannesburg

South Africa has been on a decades-long journey of reforming its public service. But serious problems persist.

In September 2026 the urgency for change was again underscored during the Madlanga Commission of inquiry into corruption in the police and security forces. In his testimony, the chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Somadoda Fikeni, lamented the state of governance and accountability.…

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