NSI publishes new working paper by Ivor Chipkin on South Africa’s “third transition”

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The New South Institute (NSI) has released its latest working paper, South Africa’s Third Transition, by NSI Co-Founder and Director Ivor Chipkin. The paper shines a spotlight on a quiet yet potentially far-reaching shift in South Africa’s governance landscape, what we describe as a “third transition”.

At its centre is the Public Service Amendment Bill, a reform that seeks to redraw the relationship
between political leadership and the public administration. The paper argues that South Africa’s
governance crisis is not simply a story of corruption or individual failures, but a structural one, rooted in the long-standing blurring of political and administrative roles.

By proposing to professionalise and rationalise the public service, the reform aims to restore
stability, expertise, and accountability within government departments. Whilst not a silver bullet, it
marks a significant step toward rebuilding state capacity, and positions South Africa within a broader global conversation about how democracies can govern more effectively.

We invite you to read and engage with this working paper.