Yesterday, 1 November 2024, nearly hundred young public servants and interns from across government departments joined the network of future leaders who have been groomed under the Emerging Leaders in the Public Service programme (ELIPS).

After an intensive six months in the ELIPS programme, the young public servants and interns finally received their well-deserved certificates of participation during a ceremony in Boksburg, in the City of Ekurhuleni, in the Gauteng province.

A brainchild of the Direct-General (DG) of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Ms Yoliswa Makhasi, the ELIPS programme is an innovative coaching and mentoring initiative that was launched in April 2023.

Since its launch, three cohorts of about three hundred young people have gone through the programme to prepare them for future leadership and management roles in the Public Service.

In the remarks made on behalf of DG Ms Makhasi, DPSA’s Acting Deputy Director General for Human Resources Management and Development (HRMD), Mr Nyiko Mabunda, said the ELIPS programme fits into the new Human Capital Strategy that has recently been presented to the Cabinet of South Africa.

“The new strategy identifies the need to develop leaders for the future in the context of the of the leadership approach to the  public service that President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised. Consequently, the lessons and feedback coming from ELIPS continue to be a source of ideas on reimagining the Public Service of the future,” said DDG Mabunda.

Under the guidance of assigned coaches drawn from across the public and private sectors, the young public servants and interns participated in coaching and mentoring sessions delivered in five blocks, focusing on the following intervention areas:

  • Leading Self
  • Leading Change
  • Leadership Effectiveness
  • Leading Teams
  • Leading Performance

The certificate ceremony was preceded by a workshop, facilitated by ELIPS coach, Ms Michelle Kotze, on how young public servants could use career management principles to drive the learnings and experiences they have gathered from the programme.

In addition to remarks by the ELIPS lead coach and facilitator, Ms Zingaphi Ngewu and coach Ms Nomthandazo Moyo, the participants were also treated to a riveting keynote address by Mr Siya Morris, a well-known  motivational speaker and ELIPS coach, whose talk focused on the need to develop the right mindset for leadership.

“Show me the heroes that the youth of your country look up to and I will show you the future of your country. The question is which heroes are you looking up to?” Mr Morris challenged the participants.

In the end, however, it was the reflections and views of the third ELIPS cohort participants themselves that were of interest, with some of the young people taking to the stage for this reason.

“The Public Service is an inspiring space to work within and despite the many challenges we face, the solutions lie within us. There are no miracles or superheroes coming to save us but ourselves as thought leaders and change agents,” said Ms Thina Thandanani.

Another participant, Mr Sandile Yende, said the ELIPS experience had been “more than just a training ground but was transformative” both at a personal and societal levels.

“The ELIPS programme has not only enhanced my skills, but it has also deepened my understanding of the profound impact that public sector leaders can make,” Mr Yende added.