African Journal of Public Affairs Volume 5, Number 1 (2012)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/59607

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Front matter, African Journal of Public Affairs, Volume 5, Number 1
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012)
Evaluation of the Western Cape Provincial Government’s land provision programme for new state health facilities
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Conradie, Hendrik Francois; Cloete, Fanie
The evaluation of government policy programmes is a crucial management instrument applied internationally to establish whether policies are implemented as planned, and effective in achieving specific objectives in society. The article starts off by providing selected theoretical perspectives on public policy evaluation, culminating in a Policy Documentation Template (PDT). The PDT is a framework and control instrument that can serve as a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of public policy documents. The article then refers to policy implementation theory, and the development of a Policy Implementation Monitor (PIM) follows. Comprehensive policy documentation of the Western Cape Public Works & Transport Department (PPW) related to acquisition and provision of land for construction of new state health facilities is then assessed, and the implementation of the policy programme summarised and assessed. The article concludes with a number of recommended strategies to improve the delivery of new state health facilities to the population of the province, within set time frames. Formal partnerships and legal contracting between government departments towards critical service delivery in society are key solutions being put forward.
Failing the public through public policy : a review of the local government experience in South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Govender, Jayanathan; Reddy, P.S.
South Africa’s public policy approach since 1994 has been robust and forwardlooking. The policy process has been stretched over all areas of governance. Many policies have been translated into law, regulations and institutions aimed explicitly as serving the public good. The key is narrowing the gap between the institutions of governance and people’s needs. However, despite the good intentions, public dissatisfaction and mass protest in the local government sphere is endemic. Mass public protest consumes public capability and is therefore wasteful and counterproductive. The response of the authorities entering the contested space is usually reactionary and is hardly successful in addressing the core grievances of communities. Crucially, political representatives, that is, ward and proportional representative councillors, are crowded out of resolution processes. Communities argue that mass protest and the appropriation of public space is an essential tactic of gaining the attention of the highest authorities. Most community protests are accompanied by acts of violence. Sometimes, the presence of policing services and/or the media exacerbates the crisis. The concern is that communities are acting outside democratic processes as well as institutional arrangements meant to bridge local delivery issues and intended community beneficiaries. It is possible that communities are either unaware of public policy instruments or that they do not respect them as bona fide channels of engagement with the state. Consequently protest, usually lacking organisation, strategic direction and leadership pervades the local government landscape. Accordingly, the purpose of the article is to examine how and why public policy provisions fail the public. The focus is on policy provisions in local government legislation and the relatively recent (2007) local government policy review process, which was intended to address, among other aspects, good governance and public participation approaches, thereby enhancing service delivery. Overall, the article attempts to evaluate policy gaps at the local government sphere in South Africa.
Social capital and socio- economic development in developing political economies
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Muller, J.; Coetzee, Tania
This article reflects on the literature and theoretical frameworks regarding social capital, the positioning of social capital in state and society relations and their contribution to socio-economic development. The argument presented here is that socio-economic development does not take place in a political vacuum and the success or failure of development initiatives – including achieving socioeconomic development and reducing poverty – is often reflected in the extent to which the peculiarities of a particular political system, power relations and social relationships are acknowledged and accommodated. Although grounded in Political Science, Political Economy and Political Development, the debate and theoretical development in these fields are still evolving, and the debate regarding the role of social capital is still ongoing. The article emphasises the role and character of social capital in providing the necessary links and relationships among individuals, groups and state and society to enhance the socio-economic development outcomes. It also reflects on some of the initiatives such as the World Bank’s Social Capital Initiative and empirical evidence of the contribution of social capital in achieving socio-economic development.
Public policy management : Uganda’s experience in agricultural extension policies
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Namara, R.B.
A major challenge developmental states face, is formulating policies which survive the test of time and remain relevant in organising and directing public business. The absence of sustainable policies has resulted in ineffective management of public resources and services. There are obvious problems associated with the absence of sustainable policies, but studies on public policy necessitate the examination of multifaceted challenges facing the policy management process. Notwithstanding the available literature on general problems concerning policy management in Uganda, this article utilises the experiences of the agriculture extension policy management processes to explore the possibilities of developing sustainable agricultural policies. The agriculture sector in Uganda has had successive policy regimes and a number of issues can be raised regarding the sustainability of agricultural policies. This article argues that the sustainability of regulatory policies for agriculture requires appropriate harmonisation of political and technical expectations of those policies. Such policies will be effective and have a profound local impact. Through the literature review and interviews with donors and government officials, this article discusses the initiatives/processes undertaken by politicians and technocrats aimed at sustainable extension policies. The major questions are what is the politics underlying National Agriculture Advisory Services? How does politics shape the policy directions and implementation?
Accountability vis-à-vis representation : a pluralist examination of the South African electoral system
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Schild, D.
It is crucial to the realisation of a functioning pluralist society that an appropriate balance should exist between consensus and participation; government should perpetually be aggregating societal sentiment and manifesting such in legislation and policy. Society should perpetually refine such consensus via various participatory avenues which constitute the connective tissue between state and society. In the case of the South African electoral system – an instance of such connective tissue – this involves an appropriate balance between representation and accountability. Representation is required in order to ensure a plurality of interests is accounted for, and accountability is enforced in order to ensure that such interests are effectively and appropriately manifested in legislation and policy (a check upon governmental capacity). The South African electoral system in its current guise does not adequately ensure such a balance. This is somewhat problematic in that, in the absence of such a balance, substantial schisms may well emerge between public will, governmental enactment of such will and codified consensus. There is an acknowledgement of the unique South African socio-political context and an acknowledgement that individual electoral accountability does not implicitly ensure governmental capacity. Electoral reform – in addition to concurrent reform in other areas – is undoubtedly a necessity in ensuring that South Africa becomes a liberal democracy in practice as well as in structure.
The impact of the performance management system on accountability in the public service of Lesotho
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Sefali, F.T.; Bekker, J.C.O.
Performance management in the public service of Lesotho has been in practice since 1969, albeit in a different form from the one being applied at present. The previous system of performance management was dubbed as a closed system. Confidential reports, completed by managers/supervisors were used to report on subordinates’ conduct, performance and promotion eligibility. The assessment outcomes were captured in confidential reports, which represented the sole opinion of supervisors. Although the new Performance Management System (PMS) aims at the achievement of objectives such as the participation of employees in the planning of work, the promotion of harmonious supervisor-subordinate relations, objective appraisals and the improvement of skills, the quest for public accountability does not appear to be an area of concern. The empirical research that was conducted for purposes of this study revealed the shortcomings in respect to the relationship between performance management and accountability in the application of the current PMS that need to be addressed by the Government of Lesotho.
Book review : JJN Cloete's South African public administration and management
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Thornhill, Christopher
Book Review of JJN Cloete’s South African Public Administration and Management. Pretoria: Van Schaik Publishers, 333 pages. Revised and updated by Prof. Chris Thornhill.
Key issues impacting on the developmental state in Africa : case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Tshiyoyo, Mudikolele Michel
Public Sector Barometer. Key issues impacting on the developmental state in Africa Case of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Tshiyoyo, M.M.
Measuring the goodness of governance : macro, intermediate and micro perspectives
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012) Van der Waldt, Gerrit
Governance comprises a network of interdependent connections between various actors. The performance of governance institutions should be measured, both quantitatively (efficiency, effectiveness and economy dimensions) and qualitatively (outcomes and impact on society). Such measuring endeavours should occur against the background of globally-accepted principles of good and outcomes-based governance. It should further be facilitated by the design and establishment of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems. The question may be asked as to what extent the South African Government complies with international best practices to measure the goodness of its policy, strategy, programme and project interventions. The focus of this article is thus to critique the system utilised by the South African Government to measure the goodness of government (institutional perspectives) as well as the goodness of governance (network, joined-up, societal perspectives). A macro, intermediate and micro framework is utilised for this purpose.
Intergovernmental relations in the South African higher education sector
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012-06) Malan, Lianne Priscilla; Mammadalizade, Jamil
The article focuses on intergovernmental relations in the higher education sector in South Africa and is motivated by the rising need to assess the role that the South African higher education sector plays in promoting the state’s long term developmental goals. To achieve these goals a strong, effective and efficient system of intergovernmental relations is needed among the Department of Higher Education and Training, higher education institutions, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and Higher Education South Africa (HESA). The article analyses the environment within which intergovernmental relations takes place in the higher education sector and explains the composition, role and functions of stakeholders involved in intergovernmental relations in the South African higher education sector.
Effective political-administrative relationship for policy making and implementation
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012-06) Thornhill, Christopher
The public sector is the area within which politics is practised to its fullest extent. The political party commanding the majority in the legislature determines priorities. Political office bearers act as policy makers and overseers of the executive actions. The appointed officials act as policy implementers and advisers to the political structures. The relationship between the political office bearer and the senior cadre of the executive institution is a critical factor in determining the success of a policy. Should this interface be soured for some reason, the departmental functions could be seriously impaired. The article examines the interface and identifies the need for a sound relationship to ensure the effective implementation of policy.
Current leadership challenges in Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2012-06) Tshiyoyo, Mudikolele Michel
For decades the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been through coups d’état, civil wars, rebellions, political turmoil and instability, and it also faced aggression from its neighbouring countries in recent years. Although the DRC is a vast country which is endowed with various mineral and natural resources, the indicators of the UNDP (2011) have ranked the country last on the list. One would not understand how a country that is potentially the richest on the continent can rank among the poorest countries on the world. This article examines leadership challenges and governance imperatives in the DRC focusing on the current leadership issues. This is done in order to clarify the extent to which leadership challenges impact on governance and hamper development. This analysis is essential as it will pave a way for one to examine the governance imperatives and come up with suggestions that might assist in addressing the challenges the DRC is faced with. The article relies on the available literature review and the author proceeds to the analysis of the trends and developments taking place in the continent and particularly in DRC in order to demonstrate how the past has affected the current situation in the DRC. In its conclusion, the article considers that a transformational and authentic leadership style is essential in creating an environment that promotes the attainment of governance requirements for the development of developing countries, in general, and the DRC, in particular.

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