scholarly journals State of South African Public Service in the Context of Macro Socio-Economic Environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Professor Modimowabarwa H. Kanyane ◽  
Dr Gregory F. Houston ◽  
Mr Kombi Sausi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
The Public ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
The People ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Democratic Principles

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 requires the public service to embody certain enshrined democratic principles and values and be able to perform effectively and efficiently. The Constitution stipulates that the public service has to be professional, efficient in the use of resources, development-oriented, impartial in the provision of services, and responsive to the needs of the people. It should be accountable and transparent, perform effectively and efficiently in meeting all the tasks of government, and have the institutional capacity and organisational ethos to perform the tasks of government effectively. In each of these areas the Public Service faces a number of challenges, determined by, among others, the macro-socio environment. It is on this bases that the authors provides an analyses of the macro-socio environment in which the public service operates and propose a professional single public service, subject to merit-based selection and promotion processes.

scholarly journals Fostering public accountability in South Africa: A reflection on challenges and successes

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pandelani H. Munzhedzi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current State ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

Accountability and oversight are constitutional requirements in all the spheres of government in the Republic of South Africa and their foundation is in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. All spheres of government are charged with the constitutional mandate of providing public services. The level of responsibility and public services provision also goes with the level of capacity of a particular sphere. However, most of the direct and visible services that the public receives are at the local sphere of government. As such, enormous resources are channelled towards this sphere of government so that the said public services could be provided. It is imperative that the three spheres of government account for the huge expenditures during the public service provision processes. The parliaments of national and provincial governments exercise oversight and accountability over their executives and administrations through the Public Accounts Committees, while the local sphere of government relies on the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. This article is theoretical in nature, and it seeks to explore the current state of public accountability in South Africa and to evaluate possible measures so as to enhance public accountability. The article argues that the current public accountability mechanisms are not efficient and effective. It is recommended that these mechanisms ought to be enhanced by inter alia capacitating the legislative bodies at national, provincial and local spheres of the government.

scholarly journals Rural Development within the Context of Development, Sustainability and Rural Issues – Some Constitutional, Policy and Implementation Perspectives

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Nic Olivier ◽  
Carin Van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
South African ◽  
Development Strategy ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Sustainable Rural Development ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
The People ◽  
The Republic

This article provides an overview of some developments, internationally, regionally and in the SADC, in relation to development, that may be expected to influence the South African government’s response to the development needs of the people in the country.  An overview is provided of the somewhat haphazard way in which the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 refers to the need for and objective of development (including rural development) in the country.  Through their explanatory outline of three distinct phases in South African rural development law and policy: 1994–2000 (the Reconstruction and Development Programme and related documents and their implementation); 2000–April 2009 (the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy and its implementation) and April 2009+ (the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme and related documents), the authors review some of the historical strengths and future prospects related to rural development in South Africa.  Based on an assessment of historical trends, a number of recommendations are made for government’s way forward in the implementation of the constitutional objectives, law and policy relevant to rural development in the country.

Public sector entrepreneurship in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 500-512
Author(s):  
Boris Urban ◽  
Mmapoulo Lindah Nkhumishe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
South African ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Organisational Factors

Purpose Many unanswered questions remain regarding the authors’ understanding of how entrepreneurship can be fostered in the public sector. To fill this knowledge gap, the purpose of this paper is to conduct an empirical investigation to determine the relationship between different organisational factors and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in the South African public sector. Design/methodology/approach Primary data are sourced from middle-level managers at municipalities in the three largest provinces across South Africa. Hypotheses are statistically tested using regression analyses. Findings Results reveal that the organisational antecedents of structure and culture explain a significant amount of variation in the EO dimensions of innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness. Additionally, the findings on organisational rewards converge with an emerging stream of research which highlights that while rewards works well to motivate individuals in the private sector, they are negatively correlated with entrepreneurship in the public sector. Research limitations/implications The study implications relate to the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery of municipalities in South Africa. Due to increases in community protest actions, it is necessary not only to maximise efficiency in the provision of services, but also to innovate and be proactive in order to achieve more with less resources. Originality/value By investigating previously unrelated factors in the public sector, the authors create closer conceptual and empirical links between the role of organisational factors and each of the EO dimensions. Furthermore, the study takes place in a relatively under-researched entrepreneurship and public sector context.

scholarly journals Actions and Behaviours Essential for Monitoring & Evaluation to Succeed in South African Public Service

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Malefetsane Mofolo ◽  
Lungepi Mkuyane ◽  
Tembile Skade
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
The Public ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks

As an intervention mechanism to improve service delivery, the concepts of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is recently growing in popularity among countries, including South Africa. To this end, questions are posed in this article to establish the effect of making use of M&E in the South African public service. These are posed in view of the fact that South Africa has established a number of sound regulatory frameworks in the past, which should serve as a ‘fertile’ environment for effective service delivery. On this basis, attempts are made to investigate the answers to such questions, and then the body of knowledge through literature review was consulted so as to contextualise and conceptualise arguments and recommendations that could be made at the end of the article. Monitoring and Evaluation could be seen as a critical tool for government institutions to be effective towards achievement of their goals and objectives, as well as making an impact on the lives of South African citizens. In view of this, much needs to be done to several unresolved issues, particularly issues around the organisational/operational culture, peculiar public servants’ attitudes, inefficiency and incompetence, as well as non-compliance with relative legislation. Recommendations with regard to the required actions and behaviours in the public service are, therefore, proposed for consideration.

scholarly journals PUBLIC SERVICE MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS FROM UNIVERSITIES OF RUSSIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Pivovarov ◽  
Hendri Kroukamp ◽  
Victoria Nekrasova
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Servants ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The Republic

: A career choice in the public sector might seem strange as more financially lucrative careers beckon in the private sector.  Similarities and differences in the motivation of choosing and staying in the public sector between students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies towards a career in the public sector (referring to all spheres of government) in Russia and the Republic of South Africa are analyzed in this article. Through this process new knowledge is generated for public personnel managers in recruitment drives, promoting current and new employment opportunities possibilities are enhanced and ideas are generated for tertiary institutions for the development of curriculum to ensure that public servants will be able to address, through the attainment of the necessary skills, the changing circumstances within which public servants operate in the public sector. Recommendations in respect of further research possibilities are also explored

scholarly journals Potential Benefits of Monitoring and Evaluation as a Tool in the South African Local Government Spheres

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Mle
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
High Standard ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
The Public ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

Public institutions exist for the public good and employ public officials to perform duties aimed at providing a better life for all. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 requires that the public service maintains a high standard of professional ethics, use resources efficiently and effectively, and provide services equitably.  When the new political dispensation came into being in 1994 in South Africa, the newly-elected government committed itself to ensuring a better life for all through the provision of services, for example water and electricity supply, sanitation, and houses, etc. To this end, policies and programmes were put in place. However, the challenge that faces the government is the implementation of these policies and programmes which largely remains unsatisfactory. Systems of reporting and performance are, in the main, weak. To address this short-coming, therefore, government came up with the concept of monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of policies and programmes to the extent of creating a new department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency.  Key to the effective implementation of government policies and programmes is the introduction of a tool to ensure that such policies and programmes do not gather dust. This paper therefore, posits how such a tool can have potential benefits in the local government sphere and be a panacea to the ills of this sphere which is characterized by violent service delivery protests through which communities express their dissatisfaction at the non-delivery of essential services.  <br /><br />

scholarly journals Kualitas Pelayanan Ombudsman Perwakilan Kalimantan Selatan dalam Menindaklanjuti Laporan Pengaduan Masyarakat Kota Banjarmasin

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-151
Author(s):  
Beni Akhmad ◽  
Mita Sari
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Quality Model ◽  
The Public ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
The People ◽  
Excellent Service ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Public Service Agencies

This research focuses on exposure to the quality of service of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia Representative of South Kalimantan and various efforts made in following up reports on complaints from the public in Banjarmasin on administrative matters carried out by bureaucrats in public service agencies/organizations that hinder or reduce the fulfillment of excellent service for the people. The research approach used is qualitative. This study uses interview guidelines as a research instrument. Qualitatively, this study found that, based on the Gronroos service quality model, the service of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia Representative of South Kalimantan in following up public complaints reports in accordance with Law Number 37 of 2008 concerning the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia with reference to Article 24 to Article 38, in following up on complaints from the public, the Ombudsman is impartial and able to be an effective communication facilitator between the organizer and users of public services so that each party can obtain rights and fulfill its obligations. The study found the main factor in the Ombudsman's service constraints in following up the report because of the lack of information and knowledge of the community about formal and material requirements that must be completed when submitting a complaint report. From the results of these studies, researchers recommend increasing information and knowledge about the functions, duties, and authorities of the Ombudsman by conducting socialization activities to the public, students, and public service providers.

Safeguarding the Republic? The South African Police Service, Legitimacy and the Tribulations of Policing a Violent Democracy

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-108
Author(s):  
Guy Lamb
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Public Trust ◽  
The South ◽  
Police Service ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
The Republic ◽  
South African Police ◽  
High Crime ◽  
Excessive Use Of Force

Since 1994 the South African Police Service (SAPS) has undertaken various efforts to build legitimacy in South Africa. Extensive community policing resources have been made available, and a hybrid community-oriented programme (sector policing) has been pursued. Nevertheless, public opinion data has shown that there are low levels of public trust in the police. Using Goldsmith’s framework of trust-diminishing police behaviours, this article suggests that indifference, a lack of professionalism, incompetence and corruption on the part of the police, particularly in high-crime areas, have eroded public trust in the SAPS. Furthermore, in an effort to maintain order, reduce crime and assert the authority of the state, the police have adopted militaristic strategies and practices, which have contributed to numerous cases of excessive use of force, which has consequently weakened police legitimacy in South Africa

scholarly journals The kiss of death. Public service media under right-wing populist attack

2021 ◽  
pp. 026732312199133
Author(s):  
Christina Holtz-Bacha
Keyword(s):  
Public Service ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Democratic Accountability ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
The Public ◽  
The People ◽  
Democratic Control ◽  
The Media ◽  
Democratic System ◽  
Public Scrutiny

With the surge of populism in Europe, public service broadcasting has come under increased pressure. The established media are considered part of the corrupt elite not serving the interests of the people. The public service media, for which pluralism is at the core of their remit, are a particular thorn in the side of the populists. Therefore, they attack the financial basis of public service, which is supposed to guarantee their independence. The populist attacks on the traditional broadcasting corporations meet with the interests of neoliberal politics and of those political actors who want to evade public scrutiny and democratic control and do no longer feel committed to democratic accountability. The assaults on the public service media are thus an assault on freedom of the media and further increase the pressure on the democratic system.

scholarly journals Biological and Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest that Two Cryphonectria spp. Cause Cankers of Eucalyptus in Africa

Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (11) ◽  
pp. 1329-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Roux ◽  
H. Myburg ◽  
B. D. Wingfield ◽  
M. J. Wingfield
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South America ◽  
South African ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Eucalyptus Grandis ◽  
Its Region ◽  
South African Isolate ◽  
Dna Sequence Data ◽  
The Republic

Cryphonectria cubensis is an economically important pathogen of commercial Eucalyptus spp. Differences have been reported for disease symptoms associated with Cryphonectria canker in South Africa and other parts of the world, and recent DNA-based comparisons have confirmed that the fungus in South Africa is different from that in South America and Australasia. During a disease survey in the Republic of Congo, Cryphonectria canker was identified as an important disease on Eucalyptus grandis and E. urophylla. In this study, we compared Congolese and South African isolates of C. cubensis using DNA sequence data and pathogenicity under greenhouse conditions. The β-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences show that C. cubensis in Congo is different from the fungus in South Africa and that Congolese isolates group most closely with South American isolates. Furthermore, pathogenicity tests showed that a South African isolate was more aggressive than two Congolese isolates. We conclude that two distinct Cryphonectria spp. occur in Africa and hypothesize that the fungus in the Congo probably was introduced into Africa from South America. Both fungi are important pathogens causing disease and death of economically important plantation trees. However, they apparently have different origins and must be treated separately in terms of disease management and quarantine considerations.

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