The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) South Africa, in partnership with the New South Institute (NSI), is pleased to announce the release of the new research publication Using Data and Evidence to Strengthen South Africa’s Democracy. This evidence‑rich report presents one of the most comprehensive analyses to date of South Africa’s public‑service workforce, drawing on more than 192 million anonymised PERSAL HR records across key service‑delivery departments.
The publication highlights critical structural challenges facing the state, including an ageing public‑service cohort, persistent skills shortages in health and education, rising attrition in key professions, and declining recruitment of younger officials. It further reveals systemic constraints within HR planning, talent management, and institutional governance, factors that increasingly impact the quality of public‑service delivery and broader democratic consolidation.
This report builds on earlier NSI research, such as Retiring the 1994 Generation of Public Servants, supported by KAS to strengthen evidence-based policy reform. It offers actionable insights for policymakers, including measures to enhance professionalisation, improve workforce data systems, and establish sustainable talent pipelines across critical sectors.
With this publication, KAS reinforces its long-standing commitment to advancing capable governance, constitutional accountability, and data‑informed democratic development in South Africa.
