The impact of political interference and high turnover intention of chief executive officers in state-owned enterprises (SOEs)

This research article serves to discuss a very contentious issue of political interference in State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) by political principals and its impact on a high rate of labour turnover of chief executives. In this article, efforts were made to define the concept of political interference, the role of SOEs in the economy, causes of high turnover, and implications related to high turnover of chief executives and the consequences thereof for SOEs as state owned organisations. The article followed a qualitative approach and used unobtrusive techniques to analyse the secondary data. This article serves to contribute to the body of knowledge by exploring the serious consequences of how political interference has led to a serious brain drain of highly qualified and skilled chief executives in SOEs. The findings are discussed in greater detail including the investigation by Zondo Commission into State Capture. The study also shows that a lack of board independence and ambiguous reporting lines aggravate the negative impact of political pressure on the stability of executives and concludes that strengthening governance frameworks, enhancing board professionalism, and clearly delineating the roles of political authorities and executive management are essential for promoting leadership continuity and organisational sustainability. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, regulators, and corporate boards committed to improving accountability, stability, and performance within SOEs