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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

THE NSG

Newsletter 31 March 2023 | Issue 06 | National School of Government

31 March 2023| Issue 06 | National School of Government

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

RE-INVENTING AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT: LESSONS FROM SOUTH KOREA “There cannot be progress without the fundamental change of African leaders and the public’s mindset” emphasized Dr Park. Having goals and aspirations would

be

fruitless

without

action

and

implementation. Dr Park also noted that the biggest challenge is not always about a lack of resources, but the mindset of people who are responsible for

The National School of Government (NSG) and Kenya School of Government (KSG) hosted a Masterclass on 29 March 2023, with Dr Jong-Dae Park. Dr Park is the author of the book Re-Inventing Africa’s Development and the presenter of the Master Class. The Master Class unpacked lessons from South Korea on how it developed its state and what it is known as today. He discussed the “Mindset Change” issue in SubSaharan Africa, and mentioned how Sub-Saharan countries share the same historical experiences as South Korea. The country’s turnaround began with public programmes that empowered its citizens in the 1950s.

undertaking the work. One of South Korea’s key areas for national transformation was to “provoke” and change the mindset of its people while also empowering them, thus, identifying the following negative syndromes for development: •

Dependency syndrome

•

‘What’s-in-it-for-me?’ syndrome.

•

“Back tracking syndrome”

•

Expediency or short-sightedness

•

Lack of action and implementation

•

Weak sense of responsibility or ownership

•

Weak sense of nation or patriotism

•

“Commission culture”

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

Below is a depiction of the four Corner Stones that

“For any development to take place, there has to be

progressed South Korea’s Development:

mutual compliance, donors and partners have to do their part. Crisis is an opportunity, stress is crucial for performance and survival”, said Dr Park

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

THE NSG HOSTS THE BRICS SEMINAR prospects and the road ahead is effective enough to uphold the economic development and if it combat poverty to achieve sustainable Development Goal One (SDG 1) in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. South Africa has assumed the rotational chairship of the BRICS Forum from 1 January 2023 under the theme: “BRICS and Africa Partnership for Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive

The five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS), established a formal association in June 2009 (with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010). The BRICS members are all leading developing or newly industrialised countries on their continents and are distinguished by their large, sometimes fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional affairs.

Multilateralism”. On 1 March 2023, Cabinet approved that Gauteng would host the BRICS Summit from 2224 August 2023. The BRICS Seminar, which will be in preparation of the conference in August, will be hosted by the National School of Government from 17-19 July 2023. The seminar will provide a platform for the member countries to share experiences, lessons, and proposals in public sector reforms, with particular emphasis on professionalising the public sector. The Seminar will follow a hybrid approach

BRICS member states have a duty to ensure successful public sector reforms, and further steps are required for the development of their economies. As members of the global community, it is important for BRICS countries, including other countries in the developing world to have a platform to share experiences on public sector reforms. The BRICS Conference is the platform created by the member states to discuss and have a resolve on what constitutes public sector reforms in BRICS countries – whether the challenges,

with a maximum of 250 participants, as well as virtual connectivity. It is important for the NSG to host this seminar to ensure that BRICS countries and invited guests gain from specialized knowledge from industry experts, have focus and intensity on the proposed themes, draw consensus on simulations on the future of public sector reform and its evolution. This will as well provide networking opportunities for the NSG and various counterparts within the BRICS `countries

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

given that the NSG already has working relations with the Chinese Academy of Governance, Escola Nacional de Administração Pública Brazil, India as well as Russia.

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION VISITS THE NSG

Yesterday,

the Principal of the National School of

Furthermore, the work of the school was emphasised

Government (NSG) Prof. Busani Ngcaweni welcomed

as being proactive and responsive to the current

the

challenges facing public servants.

Bill

and

Milenda

Gates

Foundation

representatives to the School. The meeting, chaired by Ms Phindile Mkwanazi, was aimed at exploring

Mr Afex Munive, Technical Senior Lead at the Global

future collaborative efforts between the NSG and the

Center for Gender Equality shared the various

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

interventions which are undertaken by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to address gaps in public

In its capacity to build a capable and ethical public

leadership. Mr Munive and Ms Matshidiso Masire who

service, the NSG’s detailed presentation highlighted

are the Regional Representative: Southern Africa

the achievements and aspirations of the department.

both welcomed NSG’s insightful presentation and

Importantly, the work to promote gender equality in

committed to future engagements which will result

the public service was echoed by Ms Denise Miller,

in finalising collaboration between the School and Bill

Chief Director: Curriculum Support and Trainer

and Melinda Foundation.

Professionalisation.

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

THE LEGAL EFFECTS OF MARRIAGE OF A SURVIVOR’S LEGAL ENTITLEMENT AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF LEGATEES AND HEIRS? By: Legal Services

(b) Whether a surviving partner in a permanent opposite-sex life partnership in which the partners had undertaken reciprocal duties of support is entitled to inherit from the estate of the deceased partner under the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987. In the above-mentioned case, Ms Bwanya (the Applicant) and the deceased, Mr Ruch, were involved in a relationship that comprised most, if not all, characteristics of a marriage. However, the two could not marry because of the death of Mr Ruch. The Applicant lodged two claims against the deceased’s estate for maintenance in terms of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act and for inheritance in terms of the Intestate Succession Act, which claims were rejected by the executor of the deceased estate. These were rejected on the basis that the Applicant did not qualify for the claimed benefits.

The Constitutional Court in the case of Jane Bwanya

The Applicant challenged the constitutionality of section 1(1) of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses

and Master of the High Court, Cape Town and Others,

Act and section 1(1) of the Intestate Succession Act

dealt with the following two issues, namely:

on the basis that they exclude surviving partners in

(a) Whether a surviving partner in a permanent heterosexual life partnership in which the partners had undertaken reciprocal duties of support is entitled

to

claim

maintenance

under

the

permanent heterosexual life partnerships, where the partners had undertaken reciprocal duties of support, from claiming maintenance and inheritance from the estates of their deceased partners.

Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990; and

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

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Central to this case was the following question posed

The Constitutional Court suspended the declaration

by Justice Sachs in the opener to the judgment:

of invalidity of the above-mentioned sections of both

“Should a person who has shared her home and life with her deceased partner, born and raised children with him, cared for him in health and sickness, and dedicated her life to support the family they created together, be treated as a legal stranger to his estate,

the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act and Intestate Succession Act for a period of 18 months from the date of the order to enable Parliament to take steps to remedy the constitutional defects identified in the judgement.

with no claim for subsistence because they were never married?” The above question was then answered by the Constitutional Court in the negative for the reasons that follow. The Constitutional Court held that the exclusion from the definition of “survivor” in section 1 of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act, of permanent life partners (whether in a same-sex or heterosexual relationship) who undertook reciprocal duties of support be declared constitutionally invalid together with section 2(1) of the same Act which confers maintenance benefit on surviving spouses only. In respect section 1(1) of the Intestate Succession Act, the Court held that the omission of or the phrase “or partner in a permanent life partnership in which the partners have undertaken reciprocal duties of support” after the word “spouse”, wherever it appears in the section, to be unconstitutional and further that the section be read as though the phrase “or partner in a permanent life partnership in which the partners have undertaken reciprocal duties of support” after the word “spouse”. It is further worth noting that the Constitutional Court did not distinguish between same - sex life partnership relationships

and

heterosexual

life

partnerships and commented that such a distinction would amount to unfair discrimination.

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

KIDNEY AWARENESS SESSION

March

is National Kidney Month.

The world

commemorated World Kidney Day on 9 March. World Kidney Day is a global campaign to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and associated health problems worldwide. The National School of Government (NSG), through its Employee Health and Wellness Service Provider, Workforce Healthcare (WFHC), participated in the event and provided awareness and education to NSG employees. The purpose of the awareness session was to provide more understanding on the importance of kidneys. Ms Savanah from WFHC stated that March as National kidney month presents an ideal opportunity for all of us to cultivate a curiosity on how the different organs in the body work. “We need to adopt a healthy and positive lifestyle to support the function of our entire system,” she said. 31 March 2023| Issue 06 | National School of Government

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

Ms Savannah also discussed the aging process and its effects on the state of health of kidneys. In her presentation, she highlighted that as the body ages, its functioning also gradually slows down.

Vital

organs such as the heart rate and elasticity of our vascular system tends to slow down. This then causes a natural increase of blood pressure. As a result of lifestyle choices and habits, the kidneys start being affected significantly over the years. Chronic kidney disease is a progressive loss of kidney function over a

As the human body ages, the more the kidney function deteriorates, however, bearing in mind that kidney disease can develop at any age. The National Kidney Foundation of South Africa states that people over the age of 60 are more likely to develop some form of kidney problem. However, lifestyles choices in younger years can either significantly increase or decrease regressopm or cause more problems in the body at a later stage.

period of months or years.

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NSG NEWSLETTER 31 March 2023

ISSUE 06

THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES PENSION FUND (GEPF)

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