1,720,970 research outputs found
Examining the effects of restructuring in the public service: the case of the South African National Department of Human Settlements
Get PDFThesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017.Refer to documen
Examining the Oversight Role of the Republic of Botswana’s Parliament
Get PDFDoctor of Philosophy in Public Management and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe study attempted to examine the oversight role and function of the Republic of Botswana Parliament. Concern regarding the role and function of Parliament in ensuring accountable Executive authority required scholarly examination. Such an examination was necessary to maintain key public administration principles of realising effective and efficient public service. The ineffective execution of the principle of separation of powers, has resulted in structural, administrative, and operational limitations that hinder the effectiveness of Botswana’s Parliament to hold the Executive accountable. Therefore, this study sought to develop a framework necessary to enhance guiding of the oversight role and function of Parliament as well as to foster the separation of powers between Parliament and the Executive branches of government in Botswana. This enhancing of the oversight role of Parliament is necessary to attain an independent, strong, efficient and effective Parliament which is able to hold the Executive meaningfully accountable. To achieve its purpose, the study used qualitative research methodologies. The first were semi-structured interviews, employed as the empirical component of the study, and allowing predetermined questions with respondents to guide the discussions. The second used a desktop review data collection approach which is highlighted throughout the study. This approach is summarised to provide a discourse and understanding of the applicable oversight framework for the Parliament of Botswana that fosters the principle of separation of powers. Participants were drawn from stakeholders relevant to this study, such as current and former members of Parliament (MPs), current and former members of the Executive, the Clerk and Speaker of the National Assembly, representatives of civil society organisations in Botswana and academic experts from the University of Botswana. Key findings of the study are that Botswana’s Parliament is limited and often ineffective in exercising its oversight responsibilities. This finding is observed owing to a number of reasons, including Parliament’s lack of independence from the Executive, the dominance and control of Parliament by the Executive, the extensive executive powers of the president, a single dominant ruling party, weak opposition parties, weak civil society organisations, insufficient support staff for MPs, the nature of the political party caucus system, lack of question time for the president, the manner in which the motion of no confidence item is structured by the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana of 1966, and undeveloped Parliamentary committee structures. The study concludes, recommending that, in order to optimise the oversight function of Parliament, and to eliminate the dominance and control of the Executive, Parliament needs to be separated from the Executive in accordance with the classical principles of the theory of separation of powers, as highlighted in the proposed oversight framework of the study. It is considered that, once Parliament is separated from Executive control, then reforms pertaining to the operational and administrative oversight challenges may be better implemented. The study recommends an overarching and comprehensive oversight framework necessary to guide the role and function of Parliament in Botswana. It is within this framework that solutions to the aforementioned administrative and operational problems identified are provided.Doctora
Good Governance and Effective Public Administration in Africa
No full textThis paper is an attempt to respond to the question of whether Africa will be able to meet the NEPAD 2050 vision successfully. In addressing this question, a descriptive approach with a broad focus on the AU and NEPAD is undertaken. The case of South Africa is briefly considered to augment this discussion on the applicability of country-specific AU and NEPAD principles of democracy and good governance. While it is found that the AU and NEPAD initiatives have brought about initial achievements since their inception, a great deal of strengthening of these institutions is required. This discussion has also highlighted the fact that the upholding of AU and NEPAD norms and standards (through the Africa Peer Review Mechanism [APRM]) is declining in the continent, including in South Africa. The article concludes that in the twenty-first century, Africa needs to consolidate the role of civil society in order to effect good governance principles.Africa Insight Vol 43(1) – June 201
An evaluation of governmental health and welfare interventions in response to HIV/AIDS in South Africa : 1997–2005
No full textThe point of departure in this study was to find a logical structure to answer the research question. In order to do this, the central concept adequate was defined, clarified and linked to the research question while on the same score, concepts related to it were also defined and clarified. The objectives of the study and the conceptual instruments were combined and thereafter linked to HIV/AIDS as a real life phenomenon. The literature reviewed assisted in accessing sources relevant to the topic, in setting the theoretical framework for the study and selecting appropriate tools to measure and evaluate the adequacy of governmental health and welfare interventions. The theoretical framework of the study is informed by the idea that the Government has obligations in terms of a social contract with society. On this basis, a conceptual instrument was built, bearing in mind section 2 of the 1996 Constitution. The evaluation criteria used involves collection and sifting through information and data while on the same score, making judgements about the validity of information obtained and deriving inferences from such information.M. Admin. (Public Administration)Public Administration and Managemen
Community participation during 21st century South Africa: Modes Attitudes and Trends
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Performance management system and improved productivity : a case of Department Local Government and Housing in Limpopo Province
No full textThe Performance Management System (PMS) has been introduced in the South African public service with the intentions of monitoring, reviewing, assessing performance,
developing underperformers, and recognising and rewarding good performance. This study was undertaken as an attempt to investigate whether the PMS of the Department of Local Government and Housing (DLGH) in the Limpopo Province contributes to the
improvement in departmental productivity. The literature review undertaken in this study
shows that there is a general poor understanding of PMS in the public service and in the DLGH in particular. It (the literature review) further establishes that there are several challenges that hinder the effective implementation of a PMS in the public service. Other
findings of the study include that there is a challenge of biased ratings (subjective
assessment), and a setting of unrealistic performance targets which are unrealisable by
employees. The foregoing justifies the reasons why productivity levels are not always
realised and targets not achieved by the DLGH.
The main finding of the study is that, although it plays a significant role in the
improvement of productivity, the PMS has not contributed to the improvement of
productivity of the DLGH in the Limpopo Province. The main recommendation on the
basis of this finding is that there should be a regular and thorough training of officials
within the DLGH about the PMS and how it influences productivity. Other additional
recommendations include, inter alia, that the Departmental Moderating Committee
should demand verifiable evidence to justify a higher rating during quarterly assessments,
and that punitive/disciplinary measures be taken against those who do not comply with
the provision of the PMS policy, particularly failure to submit performance instruments.M. Admin. (Public Administration)Public Administration and Managemen
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND HOUSING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
No full textHousing policy in South Africa requires that government departments at different spheres coordinate their activities to facilitate the provision of housing. This coordination is imperative because without such, effective housing provision remains compromised. The question that this paper raises is: whither intergovernmental relations (IGR) for housing policy implementation in South Africa? From this question it is clear that the nature of this discussion is conceptual as it seeks to engage on the institutional IGR model of public housing delivery. This question is raised in this paper because a system that ties activities of different spheres of government is necessary to realise housing policy implementation outcomes. However, in responding to this question several issues receive attention: Firstly, a broader view on a social contract as well as establishing public institutions to facilitate public service delivery.Secondly, intergovernmental relations and housing which consider the nature of IGR system in place, while arguing that this system is not viable for housing delivery. Thirdly, while the municipal accreditation system has been introduced, it remains complex and costly in addressing housing delivery challenges. In the final analysis, this paper argues for a constitutional amendment which would allow housing to become a functional competency of municipalities similar to other human settlements components such as roads constructions, electricity, sanitation and clean drinking water.</jats:p
Local government in South Africa: twinning election campaigns and service delivery
Get PDFSince the promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 (the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996), the local government landscape has been transformed indefinitely. Whether this transformation has been for the better or the worse depends on the approach of a particular frame of reference, school of thought or even expectations. A legislative framework in the form of both the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998 and the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 provides binding guidelines on how municipalities are to administer and manage their affairs effectively and efficiently. This article questions whether election campaigns in the 2011 local government elections concentrated on service delivery in line with the Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTAS). In addressing this, an analysis of the 2011 election manifestos of the three most popular political parties in South Africa is undertaken. It concludes that political parties did not consider the LGTAS during their election campaigns in 2011. One of its implications is that political parties do not always agree with the diagnosis of local government challenges
Municipal Compliance with the Tender Procurement Process: A Case of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality
Get PDFThesis (Phd)Arts in Public Management and Governance, North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusSupply Chain Management is ultimately concerned with maximising affordability and value for money in the process of procurement and disposal of the assets of institutions (Moeti, 2017:148). Moreover, the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations set the minimum standard to which all municipalities must adhere, regarding the procurement processes (Dobie and Xinwa, 2015:7). However, it is argued that corruption is found in procurement transactions more than anywhere else, as the opportunities to engage in corrupt practices are greatest and where the rewards of corruption are often high (Mantzaris, 2014:67); this elucidates the impression that there are challenges within the procedures of the procurement process. To further clarify on this, an indication of challenges within the procedures of procurement was exposed by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, where the Deputy Director of Supply Chain Management at the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality was arrested. The arrest followed an investigation by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s National Clean Audit Task Team into fraud and corruption regarding R430M Durban Solid Waste (DSW) tender saga (Singh, 2020).
This study investigates how compliance with the tender procurement process is maintained within the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, as required by the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations of 2005. The purpose of the study was to enable the researcher to determine the necessary interventions required to improve compliance utilising the Resource Based View Theory. The study is embedded in qualitative research approach and employed interview questions and document analysis as instruments to collect data.
The research findings implied that Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality does maintain compliance with the tender procurement process; however, it has been noted that the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality encounters challenges of ambiguity of roles, lack of skills and knowledge, professionalism and ethics, inducements, high vacancy rate, oppression, IT systems, compliance monitoring, wasteful expenditure, and political interference.Master
The unsustainability of humanitarian aid in internally displaced people (IDP) camps in Nigeria
Get PDFJournal Article. School of Government Studies, North West University, PotchefstroomThe Nigerian state is expected to perform functions critical to the protection of citizens against disasters and harmful emergency situations through effective management of humanitarian aid. However, the reality in Nigeria shows that the government is only interested in the relocation of internally displaced people (IDP) rather than their daily survival in humanitarian camps. In addressing this problem, this article examined the indicators, reasons, and implications of the unsustainability of humanitarian aid. It is believed that research in this direction would provide an understanding of a better approach to improving the sustainability of humanitarian aid. Drawing on the state fragility theory and mixed qualitative methods involving observations, interviews, and document analysis, the findings identified a lack of capacity to control violence causing displacement, weak institutional support, political will, and capacity to finance humanitarian aid as reasons why humanitarian aid is unsustainable in IDP camps in Nigeria. It also identified the depletion of host communities’ resources, untimely deaths, harmful coping strategies, and an increased rate of out-ofschool children, among others, as the implications of unsustainable humanitarian aid. The findings suggest means through which the Nigerian government can sustain humanitarian aid in IDP camps in Nigeria
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