Governance capacity training seminar between South Africa and China kicks off

A two-week online training seminar on governance capacity for South Africa, which is hosted by the National School of Government (NSG) in collaboration with the China-Africa Institute and the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) started on Monday.

South Africa Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration Sindisiwe Chikunga said with rampant malfeasance at state-owned entities, the seminar would assist to fix the mess.

"We place a huge premium on restoring the credibility of public institutions given their agency in the implementation of government programmes that are responsive to our people's needs," she said.

Chikunga said South Africa and China would continue sharing skills in different sectors.

"South Africa's relationship with China continues to make possible the sharing of knowledge, skills, expertise and resources, in addition to foreign direct investment. Recently, there have been increased movements towards regional integration and technology transfers," she said.

With the globe grappling with COVID-19, Zhou Yunfan, CASS Deputy Director General of Bureau of International Cooperation said good governance was key during this period.

"The capacities of governance are essential to the economic and social development of a country," Zhou said, adding that similar development issues in China and the continent could be tackled.

Cai Fang, President of China-Africa Institute, told the seminar that sharing and exchanging ideas on cooperative governance and development during the pandemic was important.

"Our thinking will grow ever more prudent and actions are ever more decisive. My dear South African friends, as we all ponder and explore ways forward for our homelands towards greater prosperity, we find new sources of inspiration in our collaborative efforts," Cai said.

Senior public officials, advisers and researchers are among public officials attending the training which is aimed at exposing them to international models of governance and development.