Collaborative Government for Improved Public Service Delivery in South Africa

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Draai
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Service Delivery

Influence of Knowledge Management Practices on Public Service Delivery by Municipalities

Mousaion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charleen Musonza ◽  
Ndakasharwa Muchaonyerwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Public Service Delivery

This study examines the influence of knowledge management (KM) practices on public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study sought to determine the factors that have triggered the implementation of KM practices; the effectiveness of KM practices towards public service delivery; and the extent to which KM practices have influenced public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study. Quantitative data were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 202 employees at the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Qualitative data were collected through observations and interviews of 2 senior managers. The data collected gave a response rate of 72 per cent. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed descriptively and presented verbatim respectively. The results indicated that the internal and external factors included in this study have contributed to the implementation of KM practices in the municipality. Furthermore, the effective use of KM practices has increased the organisational KM initiative, as well as the provision of services such as electricity, education, transport, and social services by the municipality. The study recommends the establishment of KM awareness and the establishment of an integrated system that will assist in effective knowledge sharing, retention and acquisition across municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

scholarly journals The emergence of collectively owned self-supply water supply systems in rural South Africa – what can we learn from the Tshakhuma case in Limpopo?

Water SA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Hofstetter ◽  
Barbara van Koppen ◽  
Alex Bolding
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Public Service Delivery

Despite the rapid extension of public service delivery since the end of Apartheid, many rural citizens in South Africa still rely on their own initiatives and infrastructure to access water. They construct, improve, operate and maintain infrastructure of different complexities, from individual wells to complex collectively owned water schemes. While most of these schemes operate without legal recognition, they provide essential services to many households. In this article we will first provide an overview of the growing international body of literature describing self-supply as an alternative pathway for public service delivery. We then take a historical perspective on the role of communities and self-supply in South Africa and describe the emergence of six collectively owned, gravity-fed, piped schemes in Tshakhuma, Limpopo Province. We describe and compare these systems using key characteristics like resource access, investment, construction, operation, maintenance and institutional governance. We further assess their performance with regard to coverage, service level, reliability, governance structure, accountability and water quality. We do so because we are convinced that lessons learned from studying such schemes as locally adapted prototypes have the potential to improve public approaches to service delivery. The described cases show the willingness of community members to engage with service delivery and their ability to provide services in cases where the state has failed. The assessment also highlights problematic aspects of self-supply related to a lack of accountability, technical expertise and the exclusion of disadvantaged community members. By describing and assessing the performance of rural self-supply schemes, we aim to recognize, study and learn from such schemes. We consequently do not conclude this article by providing answers, but by raising some pertinent, policy-relevant questions.

An analysis of citizen satisfaction with public service delivery in the Sedibeng district municipality of South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oludele Akinloye Akinboade ◽  
Emilie Chanceline Kinfack ◽  
Mandisa Putuma Mokwena
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Service Delivery ◽  
Citizen Satisfaction

Municiple Information Society in South Africa

2011 ◽  
pp. 836-841
Author(s):  
Udo Richard Averweg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Information Society ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Development Plan ◽  
Integrated Development ◽  
Public Service Delivery ◽  
Doing Business ◽  
Information And Communication

Information and knowledge are keys to development in the knowledge-based society. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are playing an increasingly important role in the daily lives of citizens, revolutionising work and leisure, and changing the rules of doing business. ICT encompass all technologies that facilitate the processing and transfer of information and communication services (United Nations, 2002). Mbigi (2000) indicated that interdependence and “networking are part of African cultural heritage” (p. 23). The African Networking Renaissance is about business organisations finding innovative ways of doing business by harnessing ICT, cultural strengths and inspiration to meet the challenges of its local delivery needs and global competition. In the realm of government, ICT applications are promising to enhance the delivery of public goods and services to citizens not only by improving the process and management of government but also by redefining the traditional concepts of citizenship and democracy (Pascual, 2003). Van der Waldt (2004) noted that the South African government makes provision for the use of information technology (IT) to deliver certain services electronically (electronic governance). Because there is a need for municipalities in South Africa to realise “the strength and importance of a virtual infrastructure framework, which includes…technology and innovation” (eThekwini Municipality Integrated Development Plan 2003-2007, 2003, p. 24), the concept of a municipal information society (MIS) is proposed. An MIS conceptual framework to facilitate public service delivery is this article’s objective. This article is challenging because it discusses a fundamental realignment of the manner in which information, knowledge, ICT, people, and business organisations need to network within a selected municipality in South Africa to meet the challenges of public service delivery. The ideal attributes of successful public service delivery in a developing democratic society were formulated by an authoritative study of public service reform in South Africa (PRC, 1998). Public services are supposed to improve the lives of citizens in the policy areas for which a public service organisation (such as a municipality) is legally responsible. According to this approach to service delivery, local governments can utilise Internet technology to improve quality (better services), efficiency (cost effectiveness) and effectiveness (economic development). Electronic service delivery (ESD) is a method of delivering services and conducting business with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders to achieve local government developmental goals of improved customer service and business efficiency in a sustainable manner. The capacity to deliver services in a sustainable way refers to “the ability to perform appropriate tasks effectively, efficiently and sustainably” (Grindle & Hildebrand, 1995, p. 445). There is no more important issue in South Africa than improving the delivery of public services (van der Waldt, 2004). eThekwini Municipality sees the e-government strategy (eThekwini Municipality Integrated Development Plan 2003-2007, 2003) and its Web site (http://www.durban.gov.za) as important management tools for improved citizen service delivery and communications to the business community in the eThekwini Municipality Area (EMA) in South Africa. The Web site is seen as “key to retaining constant communications” with its constituents (Corporate Policy Unit, 2004b, p. 64). Improving service delivery calls for a shift away from inward-looking bureaucratic systems and attitudes towards a search for new ways of working that puts the needs of the public first (van der Waldt, 2004). In African Networking Renaissance, there is thus a need for “how-to” knowledge and information on modernising existing service delivery in keeping with new, appropriate ways of serving the needs of South Africans. ICT represent a key enabler for improved service delivery to both its citizens and business organisations in the EMA. Cronjé, de Toit, Marais, and Motlatla (2004) noted that the crux of social responsibility is “the insistence of the community that business should in every respect be a ‘good corporate citizen’” (p.106). The focus of this article is on ICT, eThekwini Municipality, and business organisations in the EMA. Good governance assumes that public service delivery (including ESD) is the implementation of public policies aimed at providing concrete services to business organisations.

scholarly journals Talent management: A 'recipe' for public service delivery in the fourth industrial revolution

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 138-148
Author(s):  
Elvin Shava ◽  
Shikha Vyas Doorgapersad
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Public Service Delivery ◽  
Local Municipalities ◽  
Two Cities ◽  
The Government

The article was based on an interpretive paradigm, which adopts a qualitative desktop review approach. Various document sources that inform 4IR and talent management within the local government context in South Africa were employed. The two cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni were used as case studies to examine their talent management strategies in the 4IR. The analysis of documents has shown that the 4IR can enable accelerated delivery of services; increase access to services; improve community participation; and more significant social accountability. Nevertheless, some municipalities in South Africa do not have enough resources and skills capacity to implement ICT/4IR measures to improve services; hence managing talent in key technical jobs has become an impediment. The absence of institutional readiness among local municipalities is a huge deterrent to managing talent needed to drive service delivery in the 4IR. The study concludes that to achieve efficient public service delivery within the 4IR, local municipalities should retain talent to manage the digital technologies that demand skilled expertise. The article recommends the government develop policies that offer guidance to local municipalities on managing specified sets of talents that are deemed crucial to enhancing socio-economic development in the 4IR.

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