
The National School of Government (NSG) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) believe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the secondment of academic personnel of the UJ to the NSG during their sabbatical leave.
The MoU enables UJ scholars to pursue education and research in line with the education, training and development (ETD) initiatives at the NSG for the duration of their sabbaticals.
The MOU will promote knowledge exchange and resource support, and will greatly enhance the NSG’s interventions in improving State capacity.
Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet has hailed the agreement as a progressive partnership towards the professionalisation of the public service, since the academics are expected to contribute to education, training and development programmes at the NSG.
“Building an ethical, competent developmental State is an apex priority of government. Such a partnership will depart a long way towards the achievement of this goal,” Kiviet said.
Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) said: “I am delighted to announce the secondment of our esteemed academic personnel to the prestigious National School of Government during their sabbatical. This opportunity will not only enrich their own research and teaching expertise but also contribute to the advancement of public administration and governance practices in the country.
“We believe that this collaboration will pave the way for greater innovation, knowledge-sharing, and academic excellence in the field. Our commitment to fostering partnerships with leading institutions such as the NSG underscores our dedication to creating a positive societal impact and shaping future leaders in the public service.”
The Principal of the NSG, Prof Busani Ngcaweni, welcomed the agreement and said the NSG looks forward to the benefit that the public sector will derive from this development.
“Academics will be able to share their expertise and gain practical experience of how the public service works, through being stationed in a government department for a period,” Ngcaweni said.
Government departments will also gain a lot from the expertise and research capacity of the academic personnel.
Ngcaweni said the NSG will explore the conclusion of a similar agreement with higher education institutions, as well to expand the pool from which government will benefit. – SAnews.gov.za

the howling swede
Van der Merwe goes to Paris to watch the Boks take on the Brits at the world cup.
Whilst in Paris, he walks around, gaping and staring at everything – so much so that he walks smack bang into a fire hydrant which hits him so hard on the family jewels that he has to be rushed to hospital where the doctors tell him they have to remove his testicles.
Van goes berserk, he bites and snarls at every one and he won\’t let anybody within 10 metres of him. Eventually they find a South African doctor in the hospital and get him to talk to Van.
He walks up to Van and tells him \”Hey Van, die ouens moet jou knaters uithaal.\”
Van replies \”O, okay, ek dog die bliksems wil my test tickets vat.\”
Bambi Benz
Fun South African Fact: The Karoo region in the Western Cape is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. In fact, it is estimated that some 80% of the mammalian fossils found to date were found in the Karoo.