In an interview with South Africa’s eNCA on 9 February, Ivor Chipkin, executive director and co-founder of the New South Institute (NSI), provided insights into the Public Service Amendment Bill, which is expected to be on the agenda of the legislature this year – now that Parliament has returned to work following the State of the Nation Address. Known for his academic work on government reform and performance, Chipkin emphasised the potential of the Bill to improve the efficiency and professionalism of the public service.

Highlighting the detrimental effects of state capture on institutional integrity, Chipkin referred to President Ramaphosa’s speech and endorsed the Bill as an important step towards a depoliticised, professional public service. This reform aims to correct the politicisation of appointments and operational decisions, a legacy of the 1994 Public Service Act.

Chipkin also addressed the challenge of aligning the Bill with South Africa’s political dynamics, emphasising the need for a public service that operates beyond political affiliations and focuses on professional and autonomous governance.

In a press release published on its website on 1 February, the NSI expressed its support for the Bill, seeing it as an important, albeit insufficient, step towards modernising the public sector and ensuring its ability to effectively serve the South African public.