Drs Norman Nhede and Rozenda Hendrickse attended the 7th Edition of the collaborative AAPAM (African Association for Public Administration and Management), DPSA (Department of Public Service and Administration) and SPMA (School of Public Management and Administration at the University of Pretoria) Research Seminar. The seminar was titled  Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and African Union Agenda 2063 – Leveraging sustainable human resource management to enhance Africa’s state resilience in times of crises, and was hosted by the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University from 30 May to 1 June 2023. 

AAPAM aims to foster the professionalisation of Public Administration and Management in Africa by assisting, encouraging, and contributing to the study of available techniques to solve wicked problems in the public sector in general and the discipline of Public Management and Administration in particular.  It further promotes research in Public Administration and Management on the African continent. 

The seminar was attended by dignitaries such as the Consul Generals of the Republics of China and Zimbabwe.  The South African Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ms Noxolo Kiviet and the Director-General of the  Department of Public Service and Administration, Ms Yoliswa Makhasi, were also present.  Delegates, ranging from academics and public officials from various African countries namely  Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and Nigeria attended the seminar.  

Dr Rozenda Hendrickse (SPMA) presented a paper focused on the professionalisation of the South Africa public sector with the view to attain the UN’s SDGs 2030.  Dr Norman Nhede’s paper focused on the role of leadership in sustaining state resilience. The need for adaptable leadership in light of the changing political, economic, and physical environments was one of the  focal points of his presentation. Overall, the seminar delivered a rich debate for consideration not only by academics in their research endeavours, but by policy makers on the African continent, when devising mechanisms to achieve the goals of the SDGs 2030 and Agenda 2063.