Latest Reflections
15 published
Governance
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele: Institutional Architect, Organisational Transformation and Effectiveness Specialist. • 15 Mar 2026
WHEN THE NATION IS ON TRIAL: WHAT MULTIPLE INQUIRIES REVEAL ABOUT JUSTICE AND GOVERNANCE IN SOUTH AFRICA
While commissions of inquiry and parliamentary oversight are essential tools for democratic accountability, their increasing frequency raises an important question about whether institutions are responding to crises rather than preventing them. The moment captured on Newsroom Afrika symbolised three layers of justice, historical accountability, contemporary institutional oversight, and targeted investigations into governance failures, highlighting an important reality about governance in South Africa. Together, these processes demonstrate both the resilience of democratic scrutiny and the need to strengthen preventive governance systems that embed ethical leadership, internal accountability, and constitutional compliance within everyday public administration.
Governance
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele • 06 Mar 2026
WHEN THE WEEDS START GROWING, GOVERNANCE IS ALREADY DECLINING
Small signs in public spaces often reveal deeper institutional issues. When routine maintenance such as clearing weeds along major streets is neglected, it may reflect weaknesses in operational oversight, accountability, and governance systems. Strong institutions maintain not only policies and strategies, but also the everyday systems that ensure public environments remain functional, safe, and well managed. Strengthening governance, monitoring, and leadership accountability is essential to sustaining effective municipal service delivery.
Governance
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele • 03 Mar 2026
NEURODIVERSITY, GOVERNANCE AND THE DANGER OF PUBLIC MISJUDGMENT
A REMINDER TO SOUTH AFRICANS: NOT ALL BODY LANGUAGE MEANS DISRESPECT. A reflection on neurodiversity, public scrutiny, and the responsibility of mature citizenship. Too often, behaviours associated with ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence are dismissed as indiscipline instead of recognised as variations in cognitive processing. When institutions fail to distinguish between misconduct and neurological difference, they risk governing through assumption rather than understanding. ? The Phylimak Position At Phylimak, we view neurodiversity through a Governance + Wellness Integration lens. Inclusive institutions do not merely tolerate difference — they design for it. Sustainable organisational performance requires psychological safety, structural awareness, and leadership maturity.
Organisational Health & Wellness
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele: Institutional Architect, Governance Transformation and Effectiveness • 02 Mar 2026
ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH AND ORGANISATIONAL WELLNESS: Two Coordinates That Feed Each Other.
The article is aimed at educating people about the importance of constant questioning is the organisation functioning sustainably and effectively? (Organisational health) Are our people well? (organisational Wellness), as a reminder to operates at the intersection of both strengthening governance systems while safeguarding human wellbeing.
Organisational Health & Wellness
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele: Instutional Architect & Governance Transformation and Effectiveness Specialist • 01 Mar 2026
SHOULD ORGANISATIONS DIAGNOSE ORGANISATIONAL HEALTH BEFORE PRESCRIBING WELLNESS PROGRAMMES?
As organisations invest more in wellness programmes, a critical question arises: should this happen without first assessing organisational health? Wellness initiatives matter, but if leadership, governance and systems remain weak, they may treat symptoms rather than causes. Sustainable wellbeing requires attention not only to people, but to the health of the organisation itself.
Governance
Thembekile Phylicia Makhubele • 23 Feb 2026
GOVERNING THE INTERFACE: WHAT DO WE REALLY MEAN BY “DEPOLITICISING” THE PUBLIC SERVICE?
Opinion about the debate regarding depoliticising the public service. Also shared on the author’s LinkedIn page.