Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu is Director of the School of Public Leadership (SPL) at Stellenbosch University. We explore the most pressing challenges facing local government, advancements in technology and its impacts, advice to young professionals who aspire to make a difference in local government, and much more.
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Episode Summary:
Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu discusses the challenges and innovations in empowering local government, particularly in South Africa. Some of the challenges highlighted include the capacity to deliver services, declining revenue, and lack of personnel with technical know-how. Prof. Ndevu suggests differentiating services based on municipalities' specific needs and prioritizing professionalization. The importance of stakeholders with technical and financial skills, regular communication and reporting, and the implementation of technology like AI and big data are also emphasized. Youth engagement is seen as crucial, with young people bringing innovative ways of delivering services and making an impact. The success story of an initiative empowering local government officials is shared, and universities are seen as playing a role in empowering local government through programs, collaborations, and involving students in problem-solving. Collaboration between universities and research institutions is also emphasized as a way to improve government practices and resolve challenges.
About Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu:
Prof Ndevu is an Academic Head: Honours in Public Development and Management in the School of Public Leadership responsible for lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate students and a professional associate at the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research of Stellenbosch University (ACCERUS), South Africa. Prior to this he was the Sectional Head in the faculty of Humanities at the Polokwane Campus of Tshwane University of Technology responsible for the Public Management, Safety and Security and Languages departments. He has published peer-reviewed chapters in books, accredited journal articles and peer-reviewed national and international conference proceedings. He is a supporter of inter-disciplinary research which leads to numerous capacity-building projects in South Africa; training short courses; professional consultation and study supervision of Masters and Doctoral students projects; appointed as an external examiner for the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Cape Peninsula University of Technology; University of Fort-Hare; University of the Western Cape; Tshwane University of Technology and Management College of South Africa. A member of Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSAD).
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