Dr Felleng Anacleta Yende‘s doctoral study explored how Public Sector Leadership (PSL) can be enhanced within the South African Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The study acknowledged that while 4IR technologies present significant opportunities for public sector efficiency and innovation, the leadership in South Africa’s SETAs has not fully adapted to or harnessed these advancements.
The Role of SETAs
SETAs, established under the Skills Development Act (No. 97 of 1998), were mandated to identify skill demands, implement training initiatives, and promote employment across sectors. According to Dr Yende, despite these noble intentions, their performance has been widely criticised due to governance challenges, mismanagement, inefficiency, and weak accountability.
Public Records
She referenced that Auditor-General reports and empirical studies indicate less than 40% of SETAs operate efficiently. This research investigated how PSL, when combined with 4IR technologies, can address these chronic issues.
Research Methodology
The study used a qualitative exploratory case study design, and the researcher engaged 11 key stakeholders from the Post School Education and Training (PSET) ecosystem. The study applied an eclectic theoretical framework incorporating systems theory, socio-evolutionary theory, and responsibility attribution theory to explore the interplay between leadership, organisational adaptability, and technological innovation.
Key Study Findings – Dr Felleng Anacleta Yende
Key findings suggest a strong awareness among stakeholders of the importance of digital transformation in improving SETA performance. Stakeholders recognised that technology could streamline workflows, improve accountability, and reduce material mismanagement.
However, current leadership lacks the digital readiness and transformational competencies required for the 4IR era. The leadership models in place are largely outdated, hierarchical, and transactional, thus misaligned with the collaborative and agile leadership required in the 4IR context.
The study proposes a conceptual framework comprising seven pillars to enhance PSL in SETAs:
- Managing Organisational Complexity – Leaders must understand and manage systemic interdependencies.
- Responsiveness to Change – Adaptability is critical in navigating fast-paced technological and socio-economic shifts.
- Leadership Development – Investment in developing digital leadership competencies is essential.
- Transformational Leadership – Emphasising vision, innovation, and change agency over bureaucratic control.
- Ethics, Accountability, and Service Orientation – Rebuilding public trust through ethical, transparent leadership.
- Digital Transformation – Leveraging AI, data analytics, and ICT to enable performance and decision-making.
- Collaboration and Partnerships – Engaging stakeholders across public, private, and educational sectors to drive integrated development.
Key Findings
The study of Dr Felleng Anacleta Yende concluded that Leadership 4.0, an approach integrating digital transformation with leadership strategy, is essential for SETAs to fulfil their mandate effectively in the 4IR context. This leadership style supports innovation, participatory decision-making, and continuous learning.
Further, the study identifies several gaps in current practices, including poor monitoring and evaluation systems, lack of performance tracking, and insufficient collaboration between SETAs and industries. It emphasised the role of adaptive leadership and systems thinking as critical enablers of a functional skills development ecosystem.
In terms of methodology, the study used desktop content analysis, document reviews, and semi-structured interviews. It acknowledged the limitations brought by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and the partial participation of key decision-makers like SETA CEOs.
In conclusion, this research contributed to academic and practical discourses on public sector innovation. It recommended that future research on implementing the proposed framework, particularly within specific SETAs or broader PSET environments, to assess its applicability and impact. Want to enquire about one of our of our programmes? Fill out this form and one of our DaVincians will reach out to you.
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