In 2022 and 2023, the AfDG convened a series of dialogues, in partnership with the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), to provide an impartial and independent forum in which frank discussion on the capability of the state and measures to enhance could take place. In these roundtable discussions, the AfDG acted as conveners and thinking partners. Attendees included former and current DGs and senior civil servants, former and current SOE executives and board members, city and municipal managers, academics engaged in the field, and other partners in building the capacity of the state. We aimed to create a deep and meaningful debate on topical capability issues with critical players, in order to develop a nuanced understanding of these challenges and to develop innovative and fresh solutions.
Five dialogues were held, on the following topics:
- Energy and the just transition
- Freight and public transport
- Policing, security cluster and wider criminal justice system
- Water security and urban governance
- A final synthesis discussion, on building state capacity and professionalising the public administration.
The dialogues followed a roundtable format. A facilitator, usually a former DG, posed questions to the panellists and moderated the discussion with participants. We were fortunate that many sectoral experts and leaders attended the dialogues, which made for lively and constructive discussions based on a variety of experience and expertise.
A report based on these dialogues was developed and can be downloaded here. [Link]
Speakers at the Dialogue Series
Energy
- Jacob Mbele, Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE)
- Calib Cassim, CFO of Eskom
- Rudi Dicks, Head of the Project Management Office in the Presidency
- Joanne Yawitch, CEO of the National Business Initiative (NBI) and Head of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Secretariat
- Mark Swilling, Chair of the DBSA, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Stellenbosch
Freight and passenger rail
- Siza Mzimela, CEO of Transnet Freight Rail
- Mesela Nhlapo, CEO of the African Rail Industry Association
- Lisa Seftel, CEO of Nedlac and former head of transport for the City of Johannesburg
- Jack van der Merwe, CEO of the Transport Authority of Gauteng
The criminal justice system and policing
- Advocate Doctor Mashabane, Director-General of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development
- Ziyanda Stuurman, Author of Can We Be Safe? The Future of Policing in South Africa
- Gareth Newham, Head of Justice & Violence Prevention at the Institute for Security Studies
- Anton du Plessis, Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions responsible for Operations, Strategy and Compliance
Urban governance and water security
- Dr Sean Phillips, DG in the Department of Water & Sanitation
- Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, CEO of the Water Research Commission
- Lubabalo Luyaba, SALGA water specialist
- Gillian Maree, GCRO Senior Researcher State capacity and the public service
- Prof Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission
- Prof Anne McLennan, Visiting Associate Professor at the Wits School of Governance
- Dr Crispian Olver, Executive Director of the Presidential Climate Commission, and member of the AFDG Management Committee.
- Rudi Dicks, Head of the Project Management Office
Related articles:
- https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2023-05-12-dennis-webster-consumers-bear-the-brunt-as-the-state-squanders-vital-water-resources/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-11-south-africa-faces-multiple-water-crises-across-all-provinces-and-sectors/
- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-01-the-police-are-not-only-failing-to-keep-us-safe-they-are-failing-in-almost-every-aspect-of-their-duty/
- https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2023-03-12-failure-to-boot-cele-betrays-public-safety/?amp
- https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/opinion/2022-12-15-transnet-turns-a-new-leaf-but-there-are-many-cracks-in-the-system/
- https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2022-12-12-dennis-webster-shortcomings-of-sas-commuter-railways-worsen-by-the-day/
- https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2022-11-10-dennis-webster-the-lack-of-political-consensus-around-energy-endures-with-anc-tied-up-to-coal/