African Journal of Public Affairs Volume 4, Number 2 (2011)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/59594

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Developmentalism and the state of skills readiness : a South African perspective (public sector barometer: a commentary)
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011) Kuye, Jerry O.; Sheoraj, Reshma
Front matter, African Journal of Public Affairs, Volume 4, Number 2
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011)
Role of theories of change and programme logic models in policy evaluation
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011) Auriacombe, C.J.
This article assesses the contribution that theories of change and programme logic models can make to policy evaluation. The article starts by summarising the need for systematic evaluation to improve evidence-based policymaking. It then assesses the use of theories of change and the programme logic model in policy evaluation. It further highlights the important conceptual steps to be taken during the planning and implementation of a systematic policy evaluation project within the framework of the new South African National Performance Management System (NPMS).
Representative bureaucracy in the South African public service
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011) Cameron, R.; Milne, C.
The research question of this article is to examine the extent to which the South African public service conforms to the concept of representative bureaucracy. A representative bureaucracy is understood to be one that consists of a workforce that reflects the composition of the citizens of the country. Furthermore it is held that if a public service reflects the diversity of the society within which it functions, then it is more likely to be responsive to all the diverse interests and make policy that reflects this. Data on race, and gender up to 2010 was obtained from the Department of Public Service and Administration’s PERSAL data base. The methodology used was that of a longitudinal study of affirmative action data across four time periods, namely 1995, 2000. 2005 and 2010. The data shows that the democratic aims of representative bureaucracy have largely been fulfilled in respect of race and gender although there were certain distinctive findings: Blacks are underrepresented at senior management level; Whites are overrepresented at senior management level; Females are overrepresented in public service in relation to workforce; Females are underrepresented at senior management level; Whites are underrepresented at lower levels of public service. Has a representative bureaucracy led to better service delivery? The evidence is mixed at best. There is general consensus that there are poor skills levels in the public service albeit co-existing with pockets of excellence. More systematic research is needed to examine this relationship.
Environmental governance at the local government sphere in South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011) Mngoma, W.; Pillay, P.; Reddy, P.S.
There has been a relatively systematic and ordered development of the environmental legal regime in the past 17 years in South Africa. The first dedicated piece of legislation was the Environmental Conservation Act, 100 of 1982. However it was not particularly effective as it sought to co–ordinate environmental matters as opposed to focusing on environmental management (Glazewski 1999:13). It was replaced by the Environmental Conservation Act, 73 of 1989 which provided an impetus for equitable development and environmental protection. The Act is based on the Constitution, 1996 to promote the notion of co-operative environmental governance which constitutes the basis of South Africa’s environmental legislation. Critical to the process are four basic principles, namely fairness, accountability, responsibility and transparency. A particular focus is spreading the responsibility for the interconnection between social well-being and environmental protection across state departments and spheres of government. Considerable emphasis is placed on citizens’ rights to be granted opportunities for effective democratic and economic involvement in future development processes (Hamman and O’Riordan 1999:3). The Act provided an enabling framework for far-reaching reform in environmental governance and can be viewed as a flagship statute of the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). This article critically reviews the legislative and administrative arrangements for environmental governance in the local sphere of government in South Africa, highlighting challenges that have to be addressed. The principles of cooperative governance and particularly the role of local government in responding to local environmental issues will also be critically reviewed.
From social exclusion to social inclusion : theory and practice over two continents
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011) Saloojee, A.; Saloojee, N.
The article concerns research in the normative social science and is aimed at making a contentious argument that the conceptual frameworks which underpinned much of the literature and research on social exclusion are rooted in European and Anglo Saxon traditions. As such they ignore the contributions made by people of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The discourse regarding social exclusion and social inclusion could therefore not be only with a Western perspective, but should note that the reality of global exclusion is felt most in the developing world. A second challenge is the marked absence of any discussion on power imbedded in social relations and the disruption of bonds between individuals and society. The third challenge to the discourse is the tepid acknowledgement of racism, sexism and other forms of socially constructed exclusions. The fourth challenge relates to the role of the state. It is argued that the discourse should be adapted to country specific situations and contacts to have policy relevance. The European/Western model should be rearticulated with a more developmental focus that puts global inequalities up front and centre and draws from the global South. The future of the social inclusion debate will depend on the ability to develop a global social inclusion drawing on the intellectual capacities of both the global North and the global South.
Globalisation and the Nepadisation of standards and protocols : an African perspective to create and maintain a supportive technical infrastructure capacity'
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Kuye, Jerry O.; Peet, Michael Andrew; kuyej@up.ac.za
Governments could previously regulate foreign goods coming into their local market through using subsidies or quotas. In some African countries and with the Nepadisation agenda in place, import levies were and in some cases are still substantial sources of government income. The international community now appears to broadly agree that free trade is a better way to encourage stronger economies. Opening national markets is a strategic imperative with important roles for both the national government and the domestic public and private sector.
Political risk assessment for South Africa with reference to the public discourse on the nationalisation of mines
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Croucamp, P.A.; Malan, Lianne Priscilla; Lianne.Malan@up.ac.za
The conceptual context and operational architecture of South Africa’s constitutional regime remains a terrain for political contest. The public discourse on the nationalisation of the mining industry is embedded in the theoretical dichotomy of an interventionist vis-á-vis a regulatory state. The outcome of this public contest may have fundamental consequences not only for state-societal relations, but for the durability of the constitutional compromise of the early 1990s which became the dominant master narrative from which the greater good has been dispensed. This article reflects on the statutory framework of the mining industry as well as the legal and constitutional interpretations which are currently contested as part of a public discourse. This discourse is subjected to a risk assessment index of political, economic and social conditions prevailing during July/August 2011, and key indicators of risk for this period is made reference to, in substantiation for the values added in the risk index. The aim of the article is to merge the public contest on nationalisation with the political risks involved in an interventionist state.
Local government public service delivery in Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Tshiyoyo, Mudikolele Michel; Koma, Samuel Bogalebjapoo; Michele.Tshiyoyo@up.ac.za
To foster economic development in Africa, countries of different regions on the continent need to integrate their systems of local government in order to provide improved public services to their respective communities. Bearing this in mind, the article proceeds to do a comparative study in order to examine some of the best practices on the continent in terms of local governance. Therefore, the focus is on two countries that represent two different regions: Great Lakes (Uganda) and Southern region (South Africa) which are becoming exemplary in terms of local governance. The analysis of the two cases will assist in coming up with a standardised model that might be useful on the continent, in particular in the context of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). There is no intention of affirming that these two countries have arrived, but the approach they have taken might be useful to SADC countries. For instance, the public service in Uganda relies significantly on the delivery of public services at the municipal level, primarily the district councils. In this context, local government becomes a key element in the search for new ways of governance in the country. The rationale of this approach is that the prevailing setback is the issue of poverty and that the most effective way of tackling it is about empowering the people to provide the services that they judge necessary, and to decide their own local priorities in the allocation of resources. South Africa strives to establish a developmental local government that endeavours working together with local communities to find a sustainable way to meet their needs and provide improved public services. Despite these two cases, public service delivery at the local level remains a challenge in many countries on the continent. The article insists on the synergy that needs to be created between public service leadership and local governance which are essential in improving service delivery in individual countries in Africa.
The role of the public protector
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Thornhill, Christopher; chris.thornhill@up.ac.za
Democracy demands regular free and fair elections, transparency and public accountability. Public administration is subject to the democratic ideals of society and in the case of South Africa it has been the premise on which the public service has been founded since the inception of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Section 195 of the Constitution contains the principles on which public administration must be based. These principles include inter alia that public administration must be accountable. To obtain, maintain and promote public accountability the Constitution provides in chapter 9 for State Institutions Supporting Constitutional Democracy. The abovementioned provisions clearly identify the South African government’s commitment to accountable public administration. In this article two cases are used to highlight the effects of the role of the Public Protector as one of the Chapter 9 institutions and its contribution to obtaining transparency and accountable public administration.
Role of civil society in the implementation of poverty alleviaton programmes
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Kuye, Jerry O.; Nhlapo, N.V.; kuyej@up.ac.za
Participation of civil society in the implementation of public policy has been a consistent thrust of the transformation agenda of the South African democratic government. The whole thrust has been that people need to participate in their own development and take ownership of the process. A vibrant and diverse civil society is, therefore, important in consolidating and sustaining democracy as well as in holding government accountable. This article evaluates the extent to which programmes implemented by civil society, particularly in partnership with social development, are empowering and sustainable. Poverty alleviation has been a concern of all governments globally. As such governments have developed and implemented various public policies as a way to address the plight of poverty. The continued challenge of poverty in South Africa raises questions on the quality of participation of various actors in the policy process, the implementation of public policy and the approaches used. The high levels of poverty further calls for the evaluation of the extent to which strategies and programmes aimed at addressing poverty are sustainable in order to achieve long-term benefits and remove the poorest of the poor from the cycle of poverty. The findings of this study indicate that programmes implemented by civil society organisations (CSOs) are still far from being sustainable given the capacity challenges, limited funding and lack of vision on how to mobilise resources for the future. If South Africa has to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halving poverty by 2014, then this research points to a rethinking in the involvement and participation of CSOs in poverty alleviation. It calls for a paradigm shift that is completely non-bureaucratic, allowing the development of systems for capacity building and funding that will allow CSOs to participate effectively in the implementation of programmes.
Assessing the role and capacity of civil society organisations in holding local government accountable in Uganda
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Fourie, D.J. (David Johannes); Kakumba, Umar; djfourie@up.ac.za
Decentralised local government is arguably the most direct mechanism of ensuring that the local leaders are accountable to the citizens, in form of downward accountability. Civil society participation is thus seen as a rationale to foster civic competence and empowerment that enables civil society to hold local governments to account. However, for the civil society to succeed in this critical role, they must have strong and viable institutional capacity and organisational arrangements, as well as the enabling legislative and operational environment. This article presents results of a fieldwork and literature study conducted to evaluate the role and capacity of civil society in holding local governments (LGs) accountable in Uganda. The study revealed that the colonial/historical ills still cast a shadow over the current state and character of local civil society organisations (CSOs) in Uganda, as it heralds mixed fortunes. The capacity of CSOs to hold government to account is affected by, their inter-organisational deficiencies, the regulatory regime, the CSO elite-urban capture, the CSO-donor relations, and the desire by most CSOs to engage in business/profit contracts with government that makes it easier to inter alia complement the work of government than questioning it. The article reviews interventions and mechanisms to enhance the capacity of CSOs to promote accountability on the local government level in Uganda.
Implementation of unemployment policies in South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2011-09) Brynard, P.A. (Petrus); petrus.brynard@up.ac.za
This article examines an issue that is currently of particular importance in South Africa. The South African Government has just allocated R9 billion to address unemployment. A number of policies address unemployment in South Africa since the transition to democracy in 1994. Notwithstanding these policies, unemployment has about doubled since 1994. The challenge that all these policies should consider is how to define unemployment. The unemployment data is crucial in an effort to design a proper unemployment policy. It seems that unemployment is much higher for younger workers than older workers. Getting the first job, especially in the formal sector, is quite difficult for most young South Africans. This article will therefore focus on aspects like the reasons for the increase in unemployment, the role of labour legislation, the impact of the South Africa’s labour policies and towards the end some policy suggestions. The analysis of unemployment is mainly based on household surveys from 1995 to 2010. The article argues that if unemployment is to be addressed, it is crucial to realise that policies should focus on job-creation in South Africa. A concern should also be the interests of the unemployed and the informally employed poor who are largely beyond the reach of the labour institutions. The lack of appropriate data on the informally employed complicates the policy-making process. In conclusion, the article appreciates unemployment policies and programmes, like public works programmes and skills training against the background of a lack of local evidence. The question is really where future employment will be generated. In this instance sectors like trade, finance and tourism should be high on the list. It is critical to realise that substantial improvements in policies are needed to address unemployment.

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