Would the question about the political administrative interface ever be settled? For cases about it in the post-apartheid South Africa abound. Mkhuseli Apleni's (the Director- General of the Department of Home Affairs) case is one of many. What do they suggest, policy vacuum or inadequacies in the system of the administration of the state? Is this the reason the National Development Plan (NDP) calls for stability at the political-administrative interface? Apleni's case reminds us of these questions and, more importantly, necessitates continued reflections for policy praxis. Here is the story. Even though Apleni won the case against his suspension by the then Minister, Hlengiwe Mkhize, President Jacob Zuma could still have re-located him to some obscure department, especially if he believed his minister's allegation against him. Mkhize had suspended Apleni ostensibly for insubordination and incompetence. The court ruled th