The New South Institute has launched the first episode of Governing Tomorrow, a new podcast series on public service reform and institution-building. The series is hosted by Yoliswa Makhasi, Head of Public Sector Reform at NSI.

The opening episode, released on 29 July 2025 and available on YouTube, features Malaika Mahlatsi, Head of Research in the Gauteng Provincial Treasury. The conversation explores the challenges of creating a public service that is both inclusive and capable, with a particular focus on the institutional and cultural barriers facing young professionals – especially young women – within South Africa’s public administration.

The episode was recorded during Youth Month, which coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter. Makhasi begins by introducing the first NSI Government in Numbers report, titled ‘Retiring the 1994 Generation of Public Servants’, which analyses public service employment data from 2009 to 2023. The report highlights demographic trends within the senior management service, raising critical questions about succession planning, promotion pathways and the underemployment of younger officials.

The discussion touches on issues such as the lack of appetite for evidence-based policymaking, the limitations of political appointments as entry points for young professionals, and the potential role of specialized streams and coaching programmes in strengthening the public service. The conversation also reflects on how cultural norms (particularly around age, gender, and hierarchy) impact authority, mobility, and institutional functioning.

This is the first in a series of conversations that will examine key themes in state reform and public sector transformation. Future episodes will continue to explore pressing questions facing South Africa and the broader Global South.Watch the episode here and stay tuned for upcoming releases.