DEGREES VS DELIVERY: Rethinking What It Means to Be “Professional” in the Public Sector. Note: Writing in my personal capacity as a private citizen of South Africa.🇿🇦 Some provinces has one of the most academically qualified cohorts of senior managers in the country. Many hold Honours degrees (NQF 8), and a significant number have Masters qualifications—a level of education that should, in theory, drive excellence in governance and service delivery. Yet, paradoxically, these provinces consistently ranks low in matric performance, and service delivery failures remain widespread in health, water, roads, and infrastructure. On the other hand during my time working in the Western Cape, they did not have a high concentration of degree-holding public servants. Yet, its performance and strategic thinking consistently stood out. What made the difference was a balanced approach: the province valued both experience and push for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and academic qualifications. This blend created a results-driven culture with wealth of experience that has kept the Western Cape among the best performing province to date. Which raises an important question: Is our growing reliance on qualifications, without sufficient experience, actually costing the country more? THIS CONTRADICTION RAISES FURTHER SOBERING QUESTION: Does a Master’s degree automatically translate to public sector professionalism? The evidence suggests otherwise. While academic qualifications are valuable, they are not the only measure of competence, leadership, or ethical public service. Professionalisation must go beyond the paper to include accountability, systems thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical governance, and community-rooted leadership. The public is not asking for more degrees they’re asking for functioning clinics, safe schools, water, and respectful service. If we are to truly professionalise the state, we must: 🇿🇦Pair qualifications with a culture of delivery and accountability; 🇿🇦Push the Recognition of Prior Learning RPL) which would ensure that experience becomes a mix with the academic heavy approach. 🇿🇦Recognise and harness institutional knowledge; 🇿🇦Reward results and ethical behaviour, not only academic achievement. Let us not confuse credentials with competence. South Africans deserve a public service that delivers—qualified, yes—but more importantly, capable and committed. #leadership #governance #publicservice #professionalisation #servicedelivery #limpopo #southafrica Check the article: https://theweeklyvisionews.net/2025/06/18/degrees-or-dismissal-psc-directive-sparks-turmoil-in-kenyas-civil-service/