Koers (E-Journal)
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Service delivery and ethical conduct in the public service: the missing links
Get PDFThere are a multitude of policies, strategies and programmes directed at the rendering of effective services to the citizens of South Africa by public service managers. However, in spite of the pursuit of effectiveness and the condemning of unethical behaviour by public service managers, scandals still occur and allegations are still made. So, where are the missing links? In this article, a brief description is given of some ethical concepts viewed as important in addressing the question posed. The concluding remarks are twofold: public service organisations need to provide continuous commitment, enforcement, and modelling of leadership in professional ethics by means of, among other things, policy structures; and public service managers need to realise the importance of changing their own mindset and accepting the ethical standards that are established by the public service organisation, even if these differ from their own beliefs and culture
Project management: a new service delivery paradigm
Get PDFIn line with international trends in governance, the South African Government’s initial focus on the development of policy frameworks, structures and systems in order to give effect to the values and principles of the Constitution, shifted to the most critical issue, namely service delivery. The Government became increasingly aware that a significant expansion in the scope and quality of service provision was not possible with traditional delivery settings and approaches. There is growing evidence that there is a need for a significant departure from conventional approaches and that a leap into a new service delivery paradigm is necessary. Increasingly this new paradigm highlights the need to further develop the government’s project management skills and applications with a view to achieving improved delivery capability. In this article the focus will be placed on the changing service delivery paradigm – from an “old” traditional model through the transition to a “new” paradigm. This paradigm is shaped by international and national trends and events in government. The contribution and advantages of project management applications for effective governance are highlighted and the article concludes with an explanation of project management organisational arrangements necessary to support the new paradigm
Die historiese agtergrond van die postmoderne visie op normatiwiteit en op ’n Christelike lewensvisie
Get PDFThe historical background of the postmodern view on normativity and on a Christian worldview Usually the criticism of Christian thinkers on postmodernism includes the notion that its representatives are normative relativists and that they furthermore do not apply relativism to their own viewpoint. Postmodernists in turn regard a Christian worldview as absolutist – a legalistic, exclusivist, marginalising and oppressive ideology. This article intends to make a small contribution to this debate. As an introduction a brief characteristic of the contemporary postmodern spirit is provided. It is indicated that the spirit of a period is determined by its conception of normativity or its idea of lawfulness. This is followed by a historical survey to trace the road which subjectivist Western thought about normativity had travelled until it reached radical relativism in postmodernism. The question is then asked whether postmodernism can really maintain its historistic relativism. As an alternative to such a viewpoint a Reformational worldview suggests the stability of God’s creational ordinances. At the same time the postmodern warning that worldviews can be or become legalistic, oppressive ideologies should be taken seriously. Specific trends that may endanger a Christian worldview are therefore identified. In conclusion it is indicated how, through a careful listening to God’s Word, these threads can be counteracted
Die afdanking van Jacob Zuma: ’n politikologiese ontleding
Get PDFThe release of Jacob Zuma: a politicological analysis In this article it is argued that the dismissal of Deputy President Jacob Zuma on 14 June 2005 must be understood in the context of the tradition of cabinet responsibility to parliament. It shows how the English tradition of ministerial responsibility is also followed in South Africa. It is argued that President Mbeki affirmed the critical morality of the Constitution that a member of cabinet must sacrifice his/her office when serious charges are brought against such a cabinet member, even if the cabinet member has not had the chance to “have their day” in a court of law. The article argues furthermore that the founding values of the Constitution have not been respected by either Zuma or the National Executive Committee of the ANC by not insisting that Zuma also resigns as Deputy President of the ANC. Public accountability cannot only be required by the Constitution, but must also be respected by institutions of civil society. Mbeki made a strong and visionary decision to dismiss Zuma in June 2005, but the ANC as institution has failed the nation by declining to dismiss Zuma as Deputy President of the ANC – especially after Zuma’s evidence in his trial for alleged rape
Secularisation from kenosis
Get PDFRecent decades have witnessed the acceleration of the process of secularisation, along with related effects in society such as a decline in morals. Christians must wonder why God allows this to happen. The suggestion is that this is a result of God’s selflimitation, kenosis, allowing a process of which He does not approve for the sake of human free will. Kenosis follows as a possible result of a distinction between the divine and the created world, which permits secularisation. This is generally seen as a result of the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, with effects in industrialisation and urbanisation; all of these can be linked with God’s kenosis. However, secularisation must not be seen as inevitable, but as having been exacerbated by the state of the church. If the result is a refining of the church, it could eventually lead to a resacralising of society
Preface
Get PDFIn this trans-disciplinary special issue, diverse themes are dealt with that can be reduced to sustainable development (and that which is related to it) in a distinctive manner. Matters which are discussed include: the conceptualisation of power, political transformation as an ideology, ethical political communication, white-collar crime; ministry in a post-literary communication context; development cooperation in Africa; and the problem of liaison between academics, students and practitioners regarding public management in the North West Province
The dilemma of ethical political communication in South African elections
Get PDFIn view of South Africa’s diversity, its unresolved issues of race and complex social legacy, election campaigns are highly sensitive. From a Reformed Christian perspective, a critical question is: To what extent is the political culture infused by the Biblical imperatives of brotherly love, respect and compassion? Given the growing use of adversarial political advertising the following two questions arise and are specifically addressed: • Could it realistically be expected of Christian political communicators in a secular country such as South Africa to communicate with full respect to people at all times, or should they be excused if they try to win at all costs? and • How do political theorists view the issue? In answering these questions, social responsibility and the need for social harmony as precondition for free and fair political activities, as well as a Biblical perspective on communication are addressed. In view of these theoretical points of departure the role of emotional messages is discussed and evaluated. It is argued that all advertising, but specifically political advertising in an emotionally charged atmosphere such as an election campaign, could have a direct negative impact on social harmony and is therefore Biblically unacceptable. Examples from previous South African general elections are discussed and evaluated from a Biblical viewpoint. It is argued that parties should not merely campaign with the aim of winning an election, but rather with the intention of respecting voters while campaigning. Simultaneously they could promote democracy within a fragile social context. Any victory outside of these parameters will not stand the test of a Biblical critique. However, it would seem extremely difficult, if not impossible, to prescribe in any detail which types of negative advertisements are acceptable and which are not
Presuppositions and the challenge to objectivity in late-modern philosophy of science: causes and possible remedies
Get PDFThe history of late-modern philosophy of science introduces us to a growing emphasis on presuppositions accompanied by a growing relativistic attitude concerning the possibility of scientific objectivity. Aspects of the latter historical developments are traced in some of the most important philosophers of science of the 20th century. An analysis of the possible causes of the phenomenon is also provided. The predominance of the freedom- pole of the humanist ground motive requires a conception of science in which the creative presuppositions of the knowing agent play an increasingly crucial role. Two “remedies” for a more balanced understanding of the role of presuppositions are indicated. The first one has to do with the recognition of a broad variety of ideological standpoints, stemming from different religious commitments. The second one recommends the recognition of the universal order for reality, which implies two consequences. First, our presuppositions do not have the power of determining our scientific observations of reality completely. Second, scientific research does not proceed only according to our presuppositional frameworks but follows a structural order. A few reflections on the nature of scientific objectivity conclude the article