Edition June 2026

As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, attention turns to the role of the public sector in shaping the future of young professionals, not only as an employer, but as a vital platform for continuous learning, innovation and personal development. The story of Thabiso Matsemela offers a compelling example of how opportunity within government can translate into both professional achievement and meaningful contribution.

An Engineering Technologist at the Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Matsemela recently brought pride to his department when he was named Best Master’s Student in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology at the Central University of Technology. His achievement reflects more than academic excellence; it speaks to the enabling environment that allows young public servants to pursue further studies while actively contributing to service delivery.

Speaking to Public Sector Manager magazine during his graduation ceremony, Matsemela described the recognition as a significant milestone in his journey, particularly as it affirmed his commitment to growth beyond the workplace. “I am a firm believer of personal development, and I am currently focusing all my energies towards the completion of my PhD studies,” he said.

Turning workplace challenges into research solutions

His academic work was closely aligned with real challenges faced within the public sector. His research focused on enhancing security against mobile asset theft within government institutions, addressing the increasing need to safeguard portable devices such as laptops in environments where employees are often mobile and operate across multiple locations. 

This alignment between research and workplace realities highlights how the Public Service can provide a rich context for innovation, allowing employees to develop solutions that directly benefit government operations.

Matsemela’s professional journey further reflects how the public sector can serve as a space for skills development and technical advancement. He has worked across a range of engineering and technology projects, gaining experience in the development and management of security systems, energy management solutions, smart electrical systems and access control technologies. 

His work also includes involvement in CCTV systems and custom engineering solutions, demonstrating exposure to diverse and complex areas of practice. Through these opportunities, he has been able to build a strong and adaptable skillset while contributing to improved efficiency and safety in the environments he serves.

Throughout his career, he has played a role in delivering advanced alarm and intrusion detection systems, smart monitoring solutions and integrated access control technologies using tools such as radio frequency identification, mobile devices and biometric systems. 

His experience also extends to CCTV surveillance and remote monitoring solutions, further reinforcing the depth of expertise he has cultivated within the public sector environment.

A space for innovation 

His contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Matsemela was recognised by the Centre for Public Service Innovation for developing an integrated alarm system combined with energy management capabilities. The project demonstrated how security and energy optimisation could be effectively integrated into a single intelligent system, showcasing the kind of forward-thinking innovation that the public service is increasingly positioned to support.

Building on this foundation, Matsemela has continued to pursue solutions that respond to modern security challenges. He recently developed a scale model prototype of an Intelligent Asset Protection System aimed at safeguarding government information technology resources.

He explained that the system is designed to autonomously monitor and protect mobile assets such as laptops when the authorised user is not present, and he has proposed that it be piloted within office environments.

The system incorporates a range of features designed to strengthen security and accountability, including the ability to detect when an authorised user leaves the vicinity of an asset, identify attempted intrusions and automatically alert security personnel in real time. It is also capable of capturing images of potential intruders and logging evidence, while integrating with access control systems to restrict movement and enable intervention.

 In addition, it allows for temporary biometric registration for authorised individuals such as auditors or visitors. Together, these capabilities offer a comprehensive response to the growing risks associated with mobile asset theft.

According to Matsemela, such innovations are particularly relevant in environments where the protection of information and equipment is critical, including government offices, audit settings, corporate workplaces and high-security facilities. He noted that the system contributes to reducing theft incidents, strengthening real-time response, improving evidence collection and enhancing overall accountability.

Investing in young people

As Youth Month places the spotlight on empowerment and opportunity, Matsemela’s journey illustrates the value of a public sector that invests in its people.

His experience demonstrates how access to education, exposure to real-world challenges and recognition of innovation can enable young professionals to grow while making a tangible impact.

His ongoing pursuit of a PhD further reinforces the message that learning does not end at employment, but can be continuously supported through the opportunities available within the workplace. 

In this way, the public sector becomes not only a place of work, but a space where ambition is nurtured and potential is realised.  

*Mlungisi Maqubela is the Spokesperson for the  Free State Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.