Project Management Institute (PMI), together with the University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership (UNISA SBL), the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Project Management Office in the South African Presidency, and other public sector partners, today launched the Public Sector Project Management Community of Practice (PSPMCoP), bringing together senior government leaders, policymakers and project professionals committed to strengthening execution capability across South Africa’s public sector.

Government is responsible for delivering many of society’s most important services, from healthcare, education, transport infrastructure, and digital public services to housing and economic development. Yet delivering these programmes has become significantly more complex as the public sector navigates fiscal constraints, shifting policy priorities, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, growing stakeholder expectations, and increasing public scrutiny. In this environment, the ability to deliver public services efficiently, transparently, and accountably has become a defining measure of effective governance.

PMI’s latest Pulse of the Profession® 2026 found that project complexity is increasing in response to rapid technological change, more diverse stakeholder expectations, and an increasingly dynamic political and regulatory landscape. Eighty-one percent of project professionals say projects have become more complex in recent years, with 37% reporting a significant increase.

The cost of poor project execution extends far beyond missed deadlines. It delays the delivery of essential public services, stalls critical infrastructure, drives up costs, erodes public trust and ultimately slows national development. These challenges are reflected in the research. Sixty-one percent of complex projects experience value loss, 55% suffer delivery disruptions, and almost one-third fail to realise their intended benefits. The findings also offer reason for optimism. Effective governance, collaboration, and the ability to manage complexity dramatically improve the likelihood of successful outcomes. It is these capabilities that the Community of Practice has been established to strengthen.

Hosted at the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership in Midrand, the inaugural gathering brought together senior government leaders, policymakers, academics, and project professionals to establish an ongoing forum for knowledge exchange and capability development. By sharing lessons from major transformation programmes, addressing common delivery challenges, and exploring practical approaches to improving execution, participants will strengthen governance, build leadership capability, and ultimately deliver greater value across South Africa’s public sector.

George Asamani, MD, PMI Sub-Saharan Africa, said the Community of Practice represents an important investment in strengthening government’s ability to deliver meaningful outcomes for citizens.

“As expectations for service delivery continue to grow, strengthening the government’s ability to consistently implement complex programmes has never been more important. This Community of Practice creates a practical forum for leaders to exchange knowledge, strengthen governance, and build the capability needed to deliver better outcomes for citizens.”

The Public Sector Project Management Community of Practice reflects PMI’s ongoing commitment to advancing project excellence across Sub-Saharan Africa by supporting public sector organisations with globally recognised standards, professional development, evidence-based practice, and opportunities for peer learning.

“No single organisation has all the answers to today’s complex delivery challenges. Creating opportunities for practitioners to exchange practical experience, learn from one another, and build institutional capability is essential to strengthening execution across government. We are proud to partner with PMI, the Project Management Office in the Presidency, and the UNISA SBL in establishing this Community of Practice, which will foster collaboration across departments and help build a more capable, connected and effective public service,” said William Mpye, Group Executive and Head of the Enterprise Programme Management Office, SARS.

With its critical mandate at the heart of South Africa’s public administration, SARS understands the importance of disciplined execution, organisational capability, and continuous innovation in delivering services relied upon by millions of citizens. Its experience leading complex transformation initiatives while balancing regulatory requirements, digital innovation, and operational excellence makes its contribution particularly valuable to strengthening project delivery across the public sector.

“As a leading institution in leadership and management education across the African continent, UNISA SBL is committed to developing the project leadership capabilities required for effective public sector delivery. This Community of Practice is a significant shift towards the development of a dynamic cohort of public sector project professionals with the knowledge base and practical ability to navigate complexity across the public sector,” said Professor Walter Matli, Executive Dean, UNISA SBL.