BER Political Comment

Forecasts
Indices
Surveys
Publications & data
Research

BER Political Comment

In-depth analysis of important political developments in South Africa, with a focus on their broader economic and policy implications. These notes are exclusive to Premium Insights clients and provide space for deeper dives into specific political events, trends and themes. For more regular updates on political developments, see the BER Weekly Review.

Back to Documents

Ruinous profits: How state actors benefit from intentional collapse

Date Uploaded: September 25 2026 09:00


Professor Samodada Fikeni argues that dysfunction in South Africa’s public service is not simply the result of poor performance, but reflects a deeply entrenched “political economy of inefficiency”. New legislation to professionalise and strengthen oversight of the public service offers an opportunity to reverse the decline, but implementation and political will will be critical.