Dr Motlalepula Radebe has graduated with a PhD in Leadership Studies, establishing a significant personal academic milestone underpinned by a deep desire to improve governance in South Africa’s public sector.
Born in the rural village of Magogoe in Mafikeng, Radebe’s early life was marked by loss and responsibility. Having married while still young and losing both her parents before the age of 25, she was forced into adulthood sooner than she expected.
Her dreams of furthering her education were delayed as she took on the roles of wife and mother at an early stage in her life, however her resolve to pursue education never wavered.
“Education was always part of the vision for my future. Even when circumstances delayed my journey, I knew I would find my way back,” she said.
That determination saw her return to her studies while balancing work with family responsibilities. What began as a second chance grew into a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, one that would see her build a distinguished career in audit, risk management and forensic investigation.
Through her work across provincial administrations, Radebe became deeply aware of the challenges facing governance in the public sector. Despite the presence of policies and regulatory frameworks, she observed how accountability was often inconsistent and consequence management weak.
‘We have strong legislative frameworks and governance structures in place, but their implementation is inconsistent, there is often a lack of accountability, and consequence management is not applied fairly or consistently,” said Radebe.
These experiences inspired her doctoral research, which examined governance and accountability within the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration. Her study revealed a concerning gap between policy and practice, with political interference, fragmented systems and selective accountability undermining governance efforts.
Her findings point to political interference, fragmented governance systems, and selective accountability particularly where senior officials are shielded from consequences creating a culture in which governance becomes symbolic rather than effective and ultimately affects service delivery and public trust.
Committed to being part of the solution, Radebe developed an Integrated Multi-Stakeholder Governance and Consequence Management Framework. The model promotes ethical leadership, transparency and co-ordinated accountability across institutions, offering practical solutions that could be replicated in other provincial administrations.
Completing her PhD while serving in an executive leadership role demanded significant sacrifice. Long hours, weekend work and limited personal time became part of her routine. She also had to master advanced research methods that challenged her in new ways.
Her faith remained a constant source of strength, grounding her throughout the journey and helping her maintain focus during the most demanding periods.
Radebe’s passion for learning also inspired her family and children to follow the same trajectory. As the first PhD graduate in her family, she is proud of her achievements.
She is also actively involved in professional bodies and contributes to knowledge-sharing platforms, including seminars and conferences within the audit and risk management field. She has indicated that the PhD has positioned her to engage more effectively with boards, audit and risk committees as well as other governance structures, providing evidence-based insights to inform decision-making.
Radebe aims to continue contributing to the development of ethical, accountable and effective governance systems within the public sector as well as mentoring and supporting the next generation of professionals in audit, risk and forensic investigation.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini