OPINION: WHEN RETIREMENT IS NOT THE END: The Ethics of “Double Dipping” in South Africa’s Public Institutions. South Africa is at a crossroads. With youth unemployment soaring, public finances under strain, and a desperate need for transformation in governance, increase fiscal burden, systemic breach of integrity, crowding out women etc., we have to ask a tough question: 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦Is it ethical for retired public servants already receiving government pensions to be reappointed into full-time, salaried positions within constitutional institutions?🇿🇦🇿🇦🤣🤣 Legally, yes. But ethically? It’s far more complicated. THE QUIET RETURN: Retirees Back in the Game. Retirement should be the moment to hand over the button or reins, not to circle back for a full-time or five or seven years contracts role. Yet, in institutions like the Human Rights Commission, Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, and Electoral Commission, retirees often return not as advisors, but as full-time contract employees. What’s more, they come back after competitive selection but renewals are not with clear performance justifications.That raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and whether this truly serves the public interest. Many have nothing to loose career wise. 🤣 THE ETHICAL RED FLAGS 🇿🇦DOUBLE DIPPING: Drawing a pension and a salary from public funds. In a country where many struggle to earn one income, this is problematic. 🇿🇦BLOCKED OPPORTUNITIES: Each pensioner rehired blocks a younger professional’s chance to lead, innovate, and bring fresh perspectives. 🇿🇦NETWORK OVER MERIT: Appointments often rely on who you know, not what you can do. This undermines public trust in institutions that should be open and fair. 🇿🇦PUBLIC PERCEPTION: When the same faces keep reappearing, citizens feel the system is rigged for an elite few. WHAT CAN WE DO? 🇿🇦Set Clear Ethical Guidelines: Limit post-retirement appointments to part-time or advisory roles unless there’s a compelling public interest. 🇿🇦Introduce Cooling-Off Periods: Retirees should wait 3–5 years before returning to full-time public roles, barring exceptional cases. 🇿🇦Cap Combined Earnings: Transparently disclose and limit the total public income of pensioners in public service. 🇿🇦Build a Leadership Pipeline: Invest in younger, diverse talent women, youth, rural professionals, and persons with disabilities to lead our institutions forward. A CALL FOR GENERATIONAL JUSTICE. This isn’t just about money or legality; it’s about fairness, equity, and trust in our democracy. We cannot afford a system where retired officials receive two incomes, mid-career professionals stall, and the youth are left waiting on the sidelines.🤣🤣🤣 STIFF COMPETITION: If we are serious about transformation and constitutionalism, we must rethink how we staff our institutions for the benefit of all South Africans, now and for the future. CLOSE THE TAP. Am thinking aloud #atmyownrisk🤣