Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey

Choosing the right career is a crucial decision with far-reaching consequences. It shapes your future, making it essential to make an informed choice.

Over the next few weeks, The African Reporter will engage with businesspeople, professionals, and other key figures, focusing on a different career each week to provide valuable guidance to younger readers navigating their career paths. This week, we explore the career of a public management and governance practitioner.

Earl Malau, a public management and governance practitioner, pursued this career because he always wanted to make a real impact in society by helping to solve public challenges and improving service delivery for communities.

“I believe the government system provides a critical foundation for me to do that. I have since realised that I do not need to be in the public sector. Many other great organisations contribute to a similar impact. So, it is not a matter of where you are, but the platform you are given or creating,” he explained.

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He advised aspiring public management and governance practitioners to be passionate about people, stay curious, work hard, and continue learning because the work can truly change lives.

“But most importantly, do not rush the process. I love that I get to work with different organisations to solve problems, support underserved communities and help shape better systems.

“It is a fast-paced environment. I learn new things every day and, honestly, at this stage of my career, I am collecting as much information as I possibly can to improve as a professional. So, I am happy to be where I am now,” he added.

What is public management and governance?
It is the study and practice of how public institutions are run, how policies are made and implemented and how government serves the people.

What does a public management and governance professional do?
They help manage public services, develop policies, improve service delivery and ensure government processes are efficient and fair.

What kind of institutions or departments employ these professionals?
Government departments, municipalities, public entities, NGOs and consulting firms. There are private sectors that prioritise this industry knowledge due to affiliations with the public sector.

What are the main functions of someone working in this field?
They focus on planning, designing and implementing policies. They also manage people and resources and improve public services.

What skills are vital to succeed in this career?
• Strong communication;
• Leadership;
• Problem-solving;
• Research and administrative skills are essential.

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What are the key differences between working in national, provincial and local governments?
National government focuses on big-picture policy, provincial government handles regional co-ordination, and local government deals directly with communities and service delivery.

How does public management contribute to effective service delivery?
It ensures that public resources are used properly and that services reach the people who need them most.

What challenges do professionals in this sector commonly face?
Common challenges include red tape because systems in the public sector are guided by many rules and regulations, so something that can be done instantly in the private sector could involve a lengthy procedure in the public sector.

There is also mismanagement of funds and political interference, which comprise the limited resources the government needs to survive. These factors lead to the bigger challenge – poor policy implementation.

How does one ensure accountability and transparency in public administration?
By following laws, using open systems, involving the public and keeping clear records of decisions and spending. You must be able to account for every decision made and action taken, and ensure it aligns with what the institution is trying to achieve.

What is the importance of ethics and compliance in this field?
Ethics and compliance ensure trust, fairness and that decisions benefit the public and not private interests.

How is policy developed, implemented and monitored in your role?
When an issue arises, we first need to do our research, consult the relevant stakeholders and assign a task team to work on designing the policy based on feedback from engagements.

Once that is approved, together with the budget, we create a project plan, which helps roll out the policy and monitor its impact through reports and feedback.

What is the role of community engagement in public governance?
It helps the government understand people’s needs, improves trust and creates solutions that work for the community. Through communities, the government can address contextual barriers and build responsive mechanisms to deal with issues affecting those communities specifically.

What soft skills does one need?
You need empathy, teamwork, adaptability, emotional intelligence and good communication. Sometimes, being able to put yourself in someone’s shoes and understanding their concerns can shape your mindset to go above and beyond to serve that community diligently.

Which high school subjects does one need?
Subjects like history, business studies, English, and economics are helpful. In terms of maths, I am unsure because I studied maths lit and still qualified for the PMG Programme. Just make sure that you get 65% and above on all your subjects to stand a better chance.

Which universities offer the course?
The universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria and other SA universities offer it.

What qualifications or degrees are required to work in this field?
A diploma or degree in public management, public administration or public governance is typically required. Across universities, they are used interchangeably.

For example, at the universities of Johannesburg and the North-West, it is called Public Management and Governance. While the University of the Free State calls it public management and administration.

What career opportunities are available to someone with a public management and governance qualification?
In the academic space, you can work as a researcher and a lecturer, subject to having NQF 9 and 10. In the public sector, you can work as a public servant, policy advisor, public administrator or in leadership roles in government and NGOs.

In addition to that, you can work in the private sector as a project manager, consultant, researcher or office administrator. Depending on how you brand yourself, there are many opportunities to consider.