DA’s double-duty man: New anti-corruption plan that could transform South Africa’s government

South Africa doesn't hear enough from politicians who do the unglamorous work of fixing the state. Jan de Villiers is one of them. The DA MP and chair of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration just drove through a landmark law that tightens the firewall between party politics and the civil service. You can't fix unemployment, crime, or service delivery with a compromised bureaucracy.

DA spokesperson Jan de Villiers unpacks one of South Africa’s most significant governance reforms since 1994, aimed at building a merit-based, professional public service. He explains how stricter rules, independent oversight, and lifestyle audits could curb corruption, restore accountability, and improve service delivery - while highlighting the political and practical challenges of making reform stick.