Original Research

Implementation of the 5IR for efficient service delivery in the public sector, South Africa

Amos Shibambu
Africa’s Public Service Delivery & Performance Review | Vol 13, No 1 | a887 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v13i1.887 | © 2025 Amos Shibambu | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 07 August 2024 | Published: 31 January 2025

About the author(s)

Amos Shibambu, Department of Information Science, Faculty of Human Science, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The emergence of Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) alleviates the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) technocentric driven behaviour by promoting collaboration. The 5IR is based on the observation that 4IR focused less on the original principles of social fairness and sustainability and more on digitalisation and artificial intelligence-driven technologies to increase production efficiency and flexibility.

Aim: This study aimed at fostering the implementation of 5IR for efficient service delivery in the public sector, South Africa.

Setting: This study emanates from the view that the government of South Africa is hesitant, leading to retention of the ancient technology to provide improved services.

Methods: This study was conducted as a systematic literature review. Data were collected from the articles ranging between 2016 and 2024.

Results: The findings revealed that it is not easy to face the emerging technology without the adequate regulatory framework, basic cognitive and problem-solving skills, which show unpreparedness of the workforce.

Conclusion: The government has been forced into implementing the emerging technologies by the IT industry despite the lack of the regulatory framework; however, this can still be corrected retrospectively and prepare the way ahead with ongoing training and development of the public servants.

Contribution: The significance of this study is that it envisages the infusion of 5IR technologies for the betterment of the public service delivery.


Keywords

4IR; 5IR; harmonisation; collaboration; human-machine; South Africa

JEL Codes

O33: Technological Change: Choices and Consequences • Diffusion Processes

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Metrics

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