Abstract:
The article will demonstrate the relationship between public administration and
good governance with special reference to South Africa. It begins with a conceptual
analysis of public administration through a periodisation from its roots and historical
development and its meaning and functions in the era of rampant globalisation
as well as the repercussions of systemic and structural changes associated with
changes. The conceptual definition and understanding of good governance follows,
accompanied by an exposition of international debates on meanings, application,
implementation and planning of good governance indicators and the relationship
between theory and practice in its analysis world-wide. The examination of the
approaches, comprehensive legislation, rules and regulations underlining the South
African government’s efforts to enhance good, transparent, and corruption free
governance are outlined. A brief outline of a process followed in state institutions
and entities is proposed that concludes that without firm and innovative leadership
and key ingredients and efforts to install and maintain transparent, accountable
and corruption-free financial and human resources imperatives cannot lead to
developmental service delivery to communities. The article concludes that financial
viability is the key foundation of good governance performance of an entity. Without
it, there is mismanagement of resources, which in most instances, is the result of
weak human resources and financial management, political interference and the
lack of a clear mission and leadership.
