On 3 May 2025, the New South Institute (NSI) released its latest newsletter, providing an in-depth overview of our recent activities and the concepts that are influencing our agenda.

This edition highlights key developments in public service reform, including the appointment of Yoliswa Makhasi, former Director-General at the Department of Public Service and Administration, as head of our reform programme. Makhasi has extensive expertise in governance and policy implementation and has already begun contributing to public hearings on the Public Service Amendment Bill, supported by the NSI’s evidence-based research. In March, we hosted a workshop at GIBS as part of a broader series aimed at deepening public understanding of the impact of reform on day-to-day governance, from licensing to water and electricity access.

Institutional storytelling remains central to our work. In February, we held a workshop to discuss the political economy of the state as part of our project to document the history of the National Treasury. With full access to Treasury archives, this initiative will offer a unique perspective on the development of South Africa’s fiscal institutions from the era of apartheid to the present day.

The newsletter also covers NSI’s global engagement beyond our borders, from our participation in the Salzburg Pathways to Peace Forum to our support for international calls for accountability following the 15 March protest in Belgrade. Migration governance also features prominently. Through essays, interviews and panel discussions, Alan Hirsch challenges dominant narratives and calls for evidence-driven approaches. Meanwhile, Victor Amadi’s report on ECOWAS interrogates the barriers to regional free movement in West Africa.

The newsletter also includes information on current career opportunities at NSI. Also, we are especially pleased to announce our recognition as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) by SARS, which marks a significant step in strengthening our institutional framework.

Finally, we look ahead to June, when NSI will co-host the On Think Tanks global conference in Johannesburg, in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs. This major international event will be held on African soil for the first time, coinciding with South Africa’s G20 presidency, and will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and think tanks to reflect on the role of evidence in shaping public policy.

We invite you to download the full newsletter and subscribe to receive future editions. This is an opportunity to engage with our work as it develops and to contribute to the wider effort to promote democratic governance through ideas, action and accountability.