The Journal of Public Administration belongs to the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) - the custodian of the fraternity. Its pride lies in its thought leadership, as demonstrated in the scholarship of its high-impact publication, as the bibliometric indicators show, and in its well-themed conferences hosted annually where, coupled with the rigour of the discourses, excellence is recognised. In the 14th Annual Conference of SAAPAM, themed The path traversed - 20 years of democracy in South Africa, a Life-Time Achievement Award was presented to Professor Sibusiso Vil-Nkomo for his outstanding contribution and exemplary leadership in the field of public administration. This is the highest honour the fraternity bestows on an individual whose contribution shapes the evolution of the discipline, both as a science and as praxis. The fraternity finds Vil-Nkomo's scholarship authori