Challenge:

Over the past decade, South Africa has witnessed a steady decline in the technical and policy-making capacity within its government institutions. This erosion of skills and expertise has hampered effective governance, leading to inefficiencies, poor service delivery, and vulnerability to corruption.

While the State Capture Commission recommended the establishment of a new agency to combat corruption in public procurement, it overlooked a critical component: how to simplify, professionalise, and make procurement processes more transparent and efficient. Without addressing systemic issues within the civil service, efforts to curb corruption risk being superficial and short-lived.

Action:

In response, the NSI team proposes the creation of a Civilian Commission on Government Reform focused on the professionalisation of the civil service. Drawing from global best practices, the initiative will centre on:

• An expert-driven process: Recognising that successful reform hinges on trusted thought leaders, the NSI will convene a group of policy experts, academics, and civil society leaders to spearhead the reform agenda.

• Public engagement and transparency: To build trust and legitimacy, the commission will conduct its research and drafting processes in the public eye. Proposals will be debated openly through seminars, media coverage, and opinion pieces, ensuring widespread engagement and scrutiny.

• Collaborative policy development: The process aims to deliver thoroughly researched, costed, and modelled policy proposals that enjoy support from key stakeholders — including senior civil servants, business leaders, unions, and government officials.

Impact:

The Civilian Commission on Government Reform aims to restore integrity and efficiency within South Africa’s public institutions. By professionalising the civil service and fostering transparency in procurement, the initiative will:

• Strengthen government capacity, ensuring policies are crafted and implemented effectively.

• Reduce corruption risks by simplifying procurement processes and making them more transparent.

• Build public trust in governance through open, participatory reform processes.

Ultimately, the project seeks to lay the foundation for a more accountable, capable, and ethical public sector — one that can better serve South Africa’s citizens and resist future attempts at state capture.