On 22 May 2025, Channel Africa published a news article highlighting the findings of the latest report by the New South Institute (NSI), ‘Retiring the 1994 Generation of Public Servants: From a Party-State Public Service to a Public Service Ready for Multi-Party Democracy’.

Co-authored by Yoliswa Makhasi (Head of Public Service Reform at NSI) and Ivor Chipkin (NSI Co-Founder and CEO), the report presents a detailed demographic analysis of South Africa’s public service using data from the Personnel and Salary System (PERSAL). The report warns of an impending succession gap and calls for urgent reforms to create a more professional and forward-looking state.

In the article, Chipkin stresses that South Africa is falling behind peer countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and Nigeria in attracting young talent to government roles. The article also features comments from Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhoua of the South African Police Service, who highlights the importance of technology in supporting youth recruitment efforts, particularly within the police force.

The report is part of NSI’s Government in Numbers initiative and can be downloaded from the NSI website.