Performance measurement as a public policy implementation tool in the South African public service

Abstract

Policy implementation in South Africa has not been as successful as the policy formulation phase. In the last ten years of democracy and the shift from apartheid minority white rule to the present majority rule, a lot has been achieved. Among the achievements is the ability to formulate policies directed at integrating society and the fragmented administrative systems. While the performance of government organisations has not been as good as anticipated, several mechanisms, though insufficient, have been put in place to assist with policy implementation and in an attempt to make government more efficient and effective in delivering public services. This research considers whether having a performance measurement and management system to oversee and evaluate the organisational side of performance might address the question of service delivery in the public service. Both policy implementation mechanisms, those referred to as alternative service delivery methods and strategy implementation using performance measurement as a tool are considered. The finding of this research project is that an improvement in policy implementation and strategy deployment using a performance measurement system, will lead to an increase in the current levels of service delivery. Two cases are considered, one, a city government of Tshwane, where performance management is mandatory in terms of the Municipal Systems Act (1999), and the National Department of Labour, which, through its own recognaizance, has implemented a performance measurement system.