South Africa overhauls public service with landmark reform

Stephen Grootes speaks to Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director of the New South Institute about the significance of the Public Service Amendment Act.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below the article.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a major new law aimed at changing how South Africa’s public service is run.

The Public Service Amendment Act (PSAA), 2025 was signed on March 26 and officially published on April 1. It is being described as one of the biggest reforms to government administration since 1994.

The law shifts key powers away from politicians and into the hands of senior government officials.

Until now, the President, Cabinet ministers, and provincial leaders had significant control over appointing senior staff and managing departments. Under the new system, these responsibilities will move to the heads of departments.

This is meant to separate political leadership from day-to-day administration.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director of the New South Institute says no longer will politicians have authority over the administration of the country.

"All the kinds of things that should normally be done by professional administrators...are actually powers that are retained or held by our politicians, until 1 April. Because what the amendment does is it takes those powers away from our politicians."

- Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director - New South Institute

"...opposition parties or coalitions will no longer have the kind of authority over public administration that the ANC enjoyed for the last 30 years."

- Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director - New South Institute

"...if you look at other places in the world, these are really the game-changer reforms in Europe at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. They are the game-changer reforms in the United States in the beginning of the 20th century and especially in the 1950s."

- Ivor Chipkin, co-founder and director - New South Institute