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Profile of Public Service

iya’s department forged a legislative-executive inter- attest to her unrivalled standing in society. On the
face that spawned progressive policies for transform- global stage, she became a great gift from Africa until
ing the public service and the legislative framework her return to South Africa in 2021.
to govern it. In 1996, she became the Deputy Minister
of Trade and Industry, and later the Minister of Miner- “Things are not okay”
als and Energy in 1999, where she spearheaded the Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka leads a quiet life generously
country’s black economic empowerment strategy. A committed to social transformation. Her exemplari-
mining charter, which was adopted as a key interven- ness is what is most needed, particularly at the time
tion to transform the mining industry, is the offshoot. when the evolution of the post-apartheid state is at
Her adroitness assuaged the jittery investors but se- the crossroad. Many are disillusioned. And often,
cured the commitments of the markets to black eco- this is to the extent of questioning the very notion
nomic empowerment. It was in the intervening years of government, including democracy as the system
of her meteoric rise within the state, where she also of organising the state. What continues to occasion
acted as the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and this discontent remains inequality, poverty, and un-
Technology in 2004, that Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka became employment. “Things are not okay”, she decried in
the Deputy Chairperson of the African National Con- her remarks as she accepted the Award. This was the
gress (ANC) in the Western Cape and a member of its discursive thread in the intersection of ideas in the
National Executive Committee. SAAPAM conference, themed towards 30 years of
democratic public administration, management, and
In 2005, she became the first woman Deputy Presi- governance.
dent of the Republic of South Africa. And, as the Di-
rector of Programmes at Equality Now, Niki Kandi- South Africa has entered an epoch of uneasiness.
rikirira, put it, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka brought to bear Covid-19 has exacerbated the situation, while the
“her understanding of the intersections of race, gen- findings of the Zondo Commission have put our de-
der, poverty, and power as the country rediscovered mocracy in the dock. And, as if this is not enough, the
its strength after the ravages of apartheid” in this po- energy crisis turns almost everything upside down. A
sition. The Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative sense of cynicism has set in, and the common refrain,
for South Africa (ASGISA) and the Joint Initiative on especially from the youth of our country and those
Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) were critical inter- at the margins of society, is, whose democracy is it
ventions associated with her tenure as the Deputy anyway?
President and strategic for the country’s develop-
ment. ASGISA was introduced to halve poverty and But how did we veer off the course? We made a
unemployment, while JIPSA sought to address the great start in 1994, with our Constitution being the
scarce critical skills required to realise the objectives best in the world primarily because of guaranteeing
of ASGISA. This was during Thabo Mbeki’s presiden- socio-economic rights. Coupled with this were good
cy – credited with the economic growth experienced, policy choices, including the courage and imagination
particularly during the period 2001-2007. Dr Mlam- with which the National Development Plan (NDP) was
bo-Ngcuka left the government in 2008 and returned drawn and the honesty that went into the diagnostic
to her passion, education. She knew that education report that framed it. Some interventions related to in-
creates opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. stitutional capability building spawned pockets of ex-
Through her Foundation, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka worked cellence. The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
on improving the quality of the leadership of schools comes to mind. Its success in beating revenue col-
and training teachers on digital literacy, targeting par- lection targets attracted Harvard University’s atten-
ticularly rural areas. tion as a case study in its teaching on institutional
reforms and capability building. Unfortunately, SARS
Gender equality advocate was nearly run down by state capture machinations.
In 2013, she joined the United Nations gender equal-
ity body as its Executive Director, which was only With all this, why does the country, almost 30 years
three years old. This makes her an integral part of the into democracy, find itself in a state where its capac-
formative stage of its evolution. She served in this ity is weak? Perhaps the answer to this question is
position at the level of the Under-Secretary General simple. The best of the Constitution and policy choic-
of the United Nations for two terms. She had been es do not lie in how they came about or were written
the custodian of the rights of “more than four billion but in how statecraft translates them into tangible
women and girls worldwide. Her legacy in the UN is outcomes for the good of society. Ingenuity in public
yet to be fully appreciated. However, the laudations affairs, coupled with a commitment to the common
she receives across the globe as the crusader of hu- good, is key in shaping institutional capability; and
man rights and social justice, including honorary doc- often, this is the function of the power of example.
toral degrees, and countless honours and awards, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka is one of those who exude this.

SERVICE DELIVERY REVIEW | Volume 15. No. 3 of 2023 37