Public Service Commissioner Dr Somadoda Fikeni has described the country’s constitution as a solid document, but says the problem lies with its implementation.

He says the constitution can provide a visionary framework for a society based on human rights and equality.

However, Dr Fikeni says its success ultimately depends on the institutions, political will, and resources used to put its principles into practice.

He was part of a panel discussion in Pretoria to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the constitution on Friday.

Fikeni says, “When we started our journey guided by this aspirational document, our constitution, we did so well, but somewhere along the way, we took a detour. Institutions and the architecture of our democracy are still the best and aspirational, but the problem is that the message is good, but the messenger has been corrupted. Once you look at institutions as a noun instead of an agency of seeing them as a verb, something to be done, that’s where the problem lies. Therefore, to correct all the ills, we have to go back to basics.”

Watch video|30 Years of the Constitution

Prof.Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, reflects on the 30 Years of the South African Constitution panel discussion, highlighting it as a powerful milestone of democracy, freedom, and constitutional progress #ConstitutionDay… pic.twitter.com/Y8FRAOrf33

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) May 8, 2026

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