On 22 July 2025, Yoliswa Makhasi, Head of Public Service Reform at the New South Institute, joined News at Prime on Newzroom Afrika to discuss the upcoming National Dialogue and the importance of placing public service reform at the centre of South Africa’s governance agenda.

In the interview, Makhasi outlined the significance of administrative reform in addressing service delivery challenges. She described the dysfunction of the public administration as the underlying factor in the breakdown of basic services and emphasised the need to focus national attention on improving the functioning of the state.

Responding to criticism that the National Dialogue could amount to little more than symbolic engagement, Makhasi argued that it nonetheless presents a practical opportunity to reassert the relevance of the National Development Plan (NDP) and to reintroduce the reform agenda into public discourse. She identified poor implementation, limited accountability, and the marginalisation of reform discussions as structural constraints that require renewed political and civic commitment.

Makhasi also referenced the professionalisation framework approved by Cabinet in 2022, noting that while early implementation has begun, greater public monitoring and follow-through will be necessary to assess its long-term impact.The discussion also addressed questions about the state’s existing consultation mechanisms (such as IDPs and imbizos) and whether the proliferation of new platforms dilutes accountability. In response, Makhasi maintained that the national platform could help coordinate and strengthen existing efforts, provided it is used to consolidate commitments and track outcomes over time.