SADC leaders call for practical public service reform in Ezulwini

At the 3rd Annual General Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Public Service Commissions Forum in Ezulwini, regional leaders called for a shift from rhetoric to practical action in public administration.

Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the SADC Public Service Commissions Forum, highlighted a paradox where Africa remains rich in natural resources while its population experiences widespread poverty. He questioned why many African nations continue to import goods despite having the resources for local production, attributing this gap to historical factors such as colonialism and the Cold War.

Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla emphasized that the effectiveness of public service commissions should be measured by tangible improvements in citizens' lives rather than mere declarations. She noted that the success of regional commitments—such as increasing agricultural trade, removing non-tariff barriers, and advancing industrialization—depends on the ability of institutions to translate bold resolutions into practical results and to uproot corruption.