Centre for Public Service Innovation

What a joyful and meaningful day at Nelspruit Correctional Centre as the Minister for Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, officially handed over the Smart Agriculture Box Project to the Minister of Department of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald.

This award-winning innovation, recognised at the Public Sector Innovation Awards in 2023 under the Citizen-Focused Innovation category, was developed by the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs and replicated through the Centre for Public Service Innovation.

The Smart Agriculture Box is a practical, climate-responsive farming solution designed to maximise limited land and water. Within Correctional Services, it supports self-sufficiency and sustainability, improves food production, reduces costs, and contributes meaningfully to rehabilitation.

A great example of how innovation in the public sector can deliver real impact. 🌱

Follow proceedings of the Smart Agriculture Box Project handover here:

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Minister for the Public Service and Administration Inkosi Buthelezi and Minister of Correctional Services Dr Groenewald arriving for the briefing.

Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Buthelezi will today handover the replicated Smart Agriculture Box Project to Minister for Correctional Services, Dr Groenewald in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi will handover the replicated Smart Agriculture Box Project to Minister for Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald on 5 March 2026 in Mpumalanga.

Our Acting Executive Director with Co-Founder and Director Dr Vivian at the Citizen-Centric Service Design: Reengineering Public Services Around the Needs and Expectations of Citizens Conference.

As part of the programme, our AED has been invited to share insights on: From Innovation to Impact: Delivering Digitally-Enabled, Citizen-Centred Public Services ,reflecting on how we can move beyond ideas to practical solutions that truly improve how citizens experience public services.

This engagement also speaks to the importance of strengthening partnerships between government and academia to drive evidence-based innovation and build public services that are responsive, inclusive and centred around the real needs of the people we serve.

The Acting Executive Director, Ms will be speaking Citizen-Centric Service Conference this morning.

Our colleagues , & joining the 1st Innovation Conference in Namibia with partners from across the continent working to support & strengthen innovation in Africa. is proud to be part of the conversations & collaborations shaping solutions.

The has partnered with for the Conference. Theme: Citizen-Centric Service Design: Re-engineering public services around the needs and expectations of citizens. Acting ED, Ms will be a speaker @ the conference.
Date: Thursday, 26 Feb 2026

Our Acting Executive Director, LYDIA SEBOKEDI presenting on the State of, and trends in the Public Sector Innovation, and the implications this has for the DPSA.

As we reflect on how the public sector must adapt to a changing environment and growing citizen expectations, engagements like these help shape a more responsive, agile and people-centred public service.

hosted Common Purpose Future leaders experience at our offices in PTA. The students had an engagement with the AED Ms @ team on leadership & the workplace: becoming employable. The students are Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Merit Awardees.