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19 October 2023 | Story Samkelo Fetile | Photo Stephen Collett
Public Management Memorial Lecture
From left; Prof Philippe Burger, Prof Francis Petersen, Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, and Dr Mareve Biljohn.

The University of the Free State (UFS), Department of Public Administration and Management recently hosted its Public Management Memorial Lecture, which was delivered by the Honourable Mxolisi Dukwana, the Premier of the Free State. This year's Public Management Memorial Lecture, titled 'Public Administration and Management as a Method and Tool of Delivering an Ethical, Capable, and Developmental State,' delved into crucial aspects of governance.

In his welcoming address, Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, provided insight into the university's Vision 130 and the university’s strategy, emphasising values such as accountability, social justice, and care. The university’s commitment to engaging on matters of public significance was also highlighted.

Fostering collaboration

Prof Petersen emphasised the importance of collaboration and co-creation – particularly in the post-COVID-19 era – to achieve optimal outputs and outcomes. “The Public Management Memorial Lecture aims to foster collaboration between academia, students, and practitioners in the field of public administration and management.”

In his introduction of Premier Dukwana, Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, highlighted Dukwana's role in various government positions, including as the ANC provincial treasurer and, more recently, as the Premier of the Free State.

Addressing challenges and opportunities

In his address, Premier Dukwana acknowledged the need for a collective effort to ensure an ethical, capable, and developmental state, emphasising the challenges faced in the current socio-political landscape. Premier Dukwana acknowledged the need for introspection regarding the state's foundations, values, and mechanisms of service delivery. “Understandably, this is quite an involved and extensive subject that interrogates not only the ethical and capable attributes of the democratic state, but also whether the democratic state is itself developing and evolving towards a horizon that is developmental in outlook.” He stressed the importance of upholding constitutional values and principles, accentuating the need for accountability, transparency, and adherence to the Batho Pele principles.

Premier Dukwana outlined key interventions in the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF), emphasising the need for a capable and honest government, improved leadership, good governance, and accountability. He called for modernised business processes, improved financial management capability, and participatory local governance mechanisms.

The importance of a social compact was also highlighted, as well as the need to set aside narrow interests for the common goal of long-term growth and development. He stressed the need for a vibrant civil society and underscored the role of public servants in effecting positive change in service delivery.

Reducing bureaucratic red tape

The Premier concluded his address by emphasising the importance of reducing bureaucratic red tape and initiating programmes to streamline service delivery. He expressed optimism for further collaboration with the UFS in strengthening governance and public administration practices. “I am looking forward to having further discussions with the UFS as it relates to the MOU between the UFS and the Free State Provincial Government. The UFS can play a crucial role in helping us to strengthen governance, and specifically improve on public administration and management approaches and practices with the aim of accelerated and improved service delivery.”

The Public Management Memorial Lecture served as a platform for robust discussions on the challenges and opportunities in public administration and management. Premier Dukwana's insights underscored the imperative for ethical, capable, and developmental governance, setting the stage for continued collaboration and engagement on these critical issues.

News Archive

Student one of ten Google Young Minds
2012-04-23

 

Sibusiso Tshabalala is making strides as an international young leader.
23 April 2012

Third-year B.Com Law student, Sibusiso Tshabalala from our university, is one of ten of Google’s Young Minds for 2012. He made it to the top thirty from a pool of 1 700 applicants at the beginning of April 2012.

“The standard of other competitors and the panel of judges were extremely high. I was excited to receive the news that I had made it,” he says.

Annually, Google searches for ten students internationally who demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is given to students who also have an entrepreneurial drive and a commitment to social activism. Sibusiso was selected for his involvement in renovating libraries and training budding public speakers. His projects also involve encouraging literacy and critical thinking in poor areas in the Free State by establishing reading clubs.

Sibusiso will be attending the Google Zeitgeist in London from 20 to 22 May 2012.

At the conference, he will have the opportunity to meet some of the world’s greatest minds. Over 400 influential business leaders and visionaries from around the world will be hosted. Speakers include Prof. Stephen Hawking, former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics: University of Cambridge; Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group; Eric Schmidt, Chairman: Google; Larry Page, CEO: Google; Angela Ahrendts, CEO: Burberry, and international musician will.i.am.

The ten winners will also take part in a series of ‘master classes’ with the aim of mentoring them to help further their future projects.

His achievements include the 2010 winner of the National SAGE Competition (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship). He represented South Africa in Brazil that same year and was also National Winner of the Best Speaker Award at the 2011 South African National Universities Debating Championships. He was ranked as one of the top ten debaters in Africa at the Pan African Universities Debating Championships held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in 2011. Sibusiso recently chaired the committee that organised the first university based CANSA Relay for Life Event in South Africa. This took place at the UFS in February 2012.

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