Dr Malusi Gigaba Secures PhD: Former Minister Hopes It Inspires South African Youth
- Former Minister of Public Enterprises and Finance, Dr Malusi Gigaba, spoke to Briefly News after graduating with a PhD from the University of Johannesburg
- Gigaba discussed the challenges that he faced in balancing his work as a politician and as a student
- He also shared with Briefly News how he hoped his academic achievement would inspire young people
Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, cabinet reshuffles, the State of the Nation Address, Parliamentary Proceedings, and politician-related news, as well as elections, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.
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JOHANNESBURG — Dr Malusi Gigaba, who recently obtained a PhD in Public Governance and Management from the University of Johannesburg's College of Business and Economics, told Briefly News that not only does he envision the inclusive role of state-owned enterprises in society, but he also believes it will challenge public perceptions of politicians being intellectually lazy.
Gigaba obtained his PhD from the University of Johannesburg and graduated on 20 July 2025 in the same ceremony where Mmusi Maimane, President of Build One SA, obtained his PhD. Speaking to Briefly News, Gigaba said his thesis focused on the role of State-Owned Enterprises in achieving commercial and developmental objectives.
As the former Minister of Public Enterprises, he possessed an intimate understanding of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). He aimed to unravel the complexities preventing SOEs from achieving commercial visibility and profound socioeconomic development. Gigaba said that the thesis offers practical solutions to improve SOE performance and combines academic research with his public service experience.
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What does the thesis recommend?
Gigaba said the thesis provides a plan to make SOEs efficient, well-governed, and financially sound. It also suggests reducing interference in SOEs and shows how SOEs can meet both business and social goals.
"This robust structural integrity enables strategic planning and execution of projects, yielding both vital commercial returns and indispensable social benefits, such as deploying rural digital infrastructure to unlock access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, truly driving inclusive growth and national transformation," he said.
Gigaba proposed a shareholder oversight mechanism to help streamline ownership, management, and control of SOEs in ways that can enhance efficiency and effectiveness. He added that by detailing how to ensure SOEs are well-governed, financially sound and free from undue interference, his research underlines the necessary conditions to optimise SOEs.
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How his PhD improved Gigaba's governance credibility
Gigaba said that the PhD strengthened his knowledge and authority in pubic policy. It adds academic proof to his political experience. His research also focuses on improving SOEs to help national development.
"My PhD was fundamentally an act of profound self-development and intellectual rigour, designed to deepen my capacity to contribute meaningfully to South Africa's governance and public policy discourse.
"It has significantly fortified my credibility by providing a robust, evidence-based academic foundation to my extensive practical experience, offering more nuanced and analytically sound perspectives on critical national issues like the future of our state-owned enterprises," he said.
The benefits of reforming SOEs
Gigaba told Briefly News that the insights of his thesis also discusses reforming SOE governance and financial structures. By reforming them, SOEs can create a stronger foundation for strategic investments across all sectors, including the digital economy. He said this would not only optimise state capacity to drive economic growth, but it would ultimately position South Africa as a more robust and capable nation within Africa.
"These insights are vital for strengthening state capacity and promoting regional stability, aligning perfectly with my commitment to Pan Africanism and a collective agenda for sustainable development across the continent. My interest was on uncovering challenges of SOE governance in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa and post colonial societies. This remains an area of ongoing interest," he remarked.
What challenges did Gigaba face?
Gigaba said the road to his PhD was not easy, but was paved with difficulties he confronted with confidence. He said the challenges he faced were intellectual and methodological. They served to test his philosophy that the future is not an accident.
He said that every hurdle, from navigating complex theoretical frameworks to ensuring meticulous data integrity, demanded a deliberate and strategic approach.
"This process reinforced that significant achievements, in scholarship or public life, are not products of chance. They arise from intentional effort, rigorous analysis and an unwavering commitment to sharing a more predictable and prosperous trajectory for our nation," he said.
Gigaba pointed out that research, naturally, is arduous, and it is easy to get distracted and even give up. However, his motto motivated him to stay the course until the end.
Gigaba hopes to inspire the youth
Gigaba also said that he hopes his academic endeavours and achievements serve as an inspiration to South African youth. He said his PhD is not merely a personal milestone, but he hopes it inspires the youth to embrace lifelong learning and commit to knowledge-based public service.
"Our nation's future hinges on a generation understanding the indispensable link between knowledge and progress. By pursuing this rigorous journey, I aimed to demonstrate that academic excellene and active societal contribution are complementary paths to impactful leadership," he remarked.
He said that he wants to encourage South African youth to see how education cultivates critical thinking, analytical skills and evidence-based perspectives essential for tackling complex challenges and contributing meaningfully to nation-building.
South Africans reacted to Gigaba's PhD. Many congratulated him. One netizen said that his achievement true testament of resilience, redirecting energy towards something else when faced with any crisis.
Floyd Shivambu obtains his second Master's
In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Economic Freedom Fighters' former deputy president, Floyd Shivambu, obtained his second master's degree in 2024. He bagged a master's in International Development from the University of London.
Shivambu bagged his first master's degree from Wits University in 2014. The EFF congratulated him and praised him for his academic prowess. South Africans also praised him.
"Congratulations on this milestone achievement. So many young people look up to you, You are a very important role model for many," a netizen said.
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Source: Briefly News
