As Ms Mohurutshane Sebokedi-Phetlhu concludes her tenure as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI), on 31 March 2026, colleagues, family and members of the broader public service are reflecting on a distinguished career spanning more than 35 years — a career defined by dedication to improving government service delivery for communities across South Africa, including her home area of Hammanskraal.
For the Sebokedi-Phetlhu family in Hammanskraal and the wider Moretele region, this moment is both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful. Speaking on behalf of their parents, Sephiri William and Novintombi Grace Sebokedi-Phetlhu, and the extended family, her brother, Segomotso Sebokedi Phetlhu, described her retirement not simply as the closing of a professional chapter, but as the celebration of a life devoted to service, integrity and national development.
Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu’s journey in government began in 1990, during the early years of South Africa’s democratic transition — a period when institutions were being reshaped, and the public service was called upon to reimagine how government could truly work for its people. At a time when many professionals sought opportunities elsewhere, she chose to remain within the public sector, convinced that meaningful change could be driven from inside the system.
Over the decades, that conviction would come to define her career.
Through her work at the Centre for Public Service Innovation, Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu played a pivotal role in promoting innovation across government departments, encouraging public servants to rethink how services are delivered and how institutions respond to citizens’ needs. Under her leadership, colleagues say, the CPSI strengthened its position as a catalyst for new ideas, practical solutions and collaborative problem-solving across spheres of government.
For Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu, innovation was never merely about policy frameworks or administrative reforms. It was about people.
Those close to her say she frequently spoke about the lived experiences of ordinary South Africans interacting with government — a grandmother seeking essential services, a young person searching for opportunity, or families relying on efficient and dignified public support. As someone from Hammanskraal, she was acutely aware of the challenges faced by local communities, including the long-standing concerns about access to clean, reliable water. In her view, government innovation meant improving these lived realities and restoring public trust.
Family members recall that her commitment to service was evident long before her professional career began. Growing up in Hammanskraal, Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu was known among her siblings as someone who constantly sought ways to improve situations and include others. In many respects, those early instincts foreshadowed the thoughtful and principled leader she would later become.
The values instilled by her parents — humility, discipline, compassion and responsibility — would go on to shape her leadership style within the public service.
Throughout her career, Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu earned widespread respect not only for her professional expertise, but also for her mentorship. Many young professionals in government credit her with helping them grow into leadership roles, describing her as someone who recognised potential and created space for others to succeed. She understood that building capable institutions required investing in people.
Observers often describe her approach as one rooted in servant leadership — focused on empowering others, strengthening systems and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the public good.
For the Sebokedi-Phetlhu family, however, the pride extends beyond titles and achievements. It lies in knowing that one of Hammanskraal’s daughters has contributed meaningfully to shaping a more responsive and innovative public service for all South Africans.
As she bids farewell to formal public service, Ms Sebokedi-Phetlhu leaves behind not only a distinguished professional legacy, but also a powerful reminder to young people in Moretele and beyond: that from humble beginnings, it is possible to rise, to lead and to serve with purpose.
Her journey stands as an inspiration to the next generation — proof that commitment to community and country can indeed change lives.
