The Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, will officially open the 24th National School of Government Public Sector Trainers' Forum (PSTF) Conference on Monday, 9 March 2026, at Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni.
The conference will be opened by Minister Buthelezi on Monday at 09:00. The Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, Ms Pinky Kekana will address the conference gala dinner on Monday evening, 9 March 2026. The conference will conclude on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
Themed "Building Public Sector Capacity for Economic Growth, Digital Transformation, and Ethical Governance," the conference will convene learning and development practitioners from all spheres of the public sector to reshape public sector education for maximum impact.
In an era of rapid global change, the role of a skilled, ethical, and adaptive public service is more critical than ever. The 2026 PSTF Conference will serve as a pivotal platform to critically assess public sector curricula, ensuring that it equips public officials to effectively deliver on South Africa's national priorities.
“There is a growing recognition that our current teaching and learning practices must evolve to better prepare public servants for the complexities of modern governance,” said the Acting Principal of the NSG, Ms Phindile Mkwanazi. “This conference is a call to action for curriculum designers, training facilitators, and policymakers to co-create strategies that translate learning into tangible service delivery improvements.”
The two-day, in-person conference will facilitate robust peer learning and networking. Key features will include expert keynotes; locally and internationally, critical dialogues on curriculum reform and interactive panels of discussions. The conference will delve into five core sub-themes:
- Strengthening the curriculum to support a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
- Leveraging digital innovation and transformation in government learning and operations.
- Modernising methodologies for authentic public participation through data literacy and AI.
- Designing curriculum with a strong workplace integration focus to translate training into action.
- Preparing for the future of work by embedding competencies in AI, automation, and cybersecurity.
Over the years, PSTF has grown into the premier networking platform for over 1,000 training practitioners in the public sector. Its strategic goal is to position Human Resource Development (HRD) as a key enabler of government's core development agenda. The forum's governance includes the NSG, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), all provincial Offices of the Premiers, and key SETAs, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public sector education.
The 24th Annual PSTF Conference invites HRD practitioners, facilitators, instructional designers, policy analysts, and digital transformation specialists to participate in this critical national dialogue.
Media enquiries:
Dikeledi Mokgokolo
Cell: 082 888 2355
E-mail Dikeledi.mokgokolo@thensg.gov.za
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