{
  "id": 8230362,
  "title": "PSC’s Fikeni highlights existence of policies but failure to execute",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pscs-fikeni-highlights-existence-of-policies-but-failure-to-execute",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T10:43:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/pscs-fikeni-highlights-existence-of-policies-but-failure-to-execute/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Professor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), has shed light on the existence of policies but the lack of execution in South Africa. Speaking at the Madlanga Commission, Fikeni highlighted that while there is a willingness to support reform, practical obstacles and vested interests hinder meaningful change. He described the political economy of inefficiency as being reflected in persistent delays, weak accountability mechanisms, leadership instability, and poor coordination across institutions.\n\nFikeni emphasized that the issue lies not in a shortage of policies or legislation, but in the failure to convert them into effective implementation and service delivery. He pointed out that the unwillingness to implement policies, even while presenting a facade of commitment to do so, lies at the core of this political economy of inefficiency.\n\nMoreover, Fikeni criticized the vetting processes in South Africa, stating that they often do not meet the rigorous standards applied in many other countries. The signing of the new Public Service Commission Act by President Cyril Ramaphosa on September 16 marks a milestone nearly 19 years in the making.",
  "summary": "Dr. Somadoda Fikeni says practical obstacles prevent meaningful change",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}