African Journal of Public Affairs Volume 8, Number 1 (2015)

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Front matter, African Journal of Public Affairs, Volume 8, Number 1
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015)
Promoting cooperative governance in India : the case of protection and promotion of human rights
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015) Begum, S.M.
The responsibility for the enforcement of the human rights laws in India lies on the shoulders of a number of executive and judicial authorities located at various levels of governments in the country. Indeed, the whole gamut of the human rights laws need to be put into practice both by the individuals on the one hand and the governmental agencies on the other. However, given the federal structure of governance in the country, the responsibility for the protection and promotion of human rights has been dovetailed into the various agencies functioning at the central, state and the local levels. But in the routine politico-administrative set up of the country, the judiciary has been assigned the task of hearing the complaints of the violation of human rights and providing relief to the people through judicial pronouncements. In this respect, while Article 32 of the Constitution of India empowers the Supreme Court, the high courts draw their authority from Article 226 of the Indian Constitution. Thus, while at the apex of the administrative structure an exclusive Human Rights Cell has been set up in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 1993 to coordinate and implement the policies and programmes on human rights. The Supreme Court stands at the apex of the judicial system of the country for protecting the human rights of the people from violations on the part of both the individuals as well as the state agencies. In 1993, with the creation of the National Human Rights Commission at the Centre and the State Human Rights Commissions in various states, the governance of human rights in India gained a new dimension in which cooperative governance become sine quo non for protection and promotion of the human rights in the country. This article analyses the promotion of cooperative governance in India drawing on the case of protection and promotion of human rights.
Performance management in the South African Department of Labour : smoke and mirrors?
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015) Cameron, R.
This article examines performance management in the South African Department of Labour looking at the roles of the national office, provincial offices and labour centres. The research objective was to identify the problems and obstacles in implementing both the organisational and individual performance management system. A single case-study method was followed and use was made of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings were that, although there are well developed performance management frameworks, they have not really been successfully implemented. There are four categories of impediments affecting the implementation of performance management. The first category is that of problems of measurement and design. The second category is that of the gaming of the system and a lack of compliance in the signing and evaluation of individual performance agreements by senior officials. The third category is lack of capacity which includes inadequate information technology systems and poor quality of staff. The fourth category is that of accountability. There needs to be strong accountability of bureaucracies if performance is to be taken seriously and public bureaucracies are to work effectively.
Sustainability of small and medium enterprises development : the case of the National Directorate of Employment in Akure, Nigeria
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015) Ilori, E.I.; Ile, I.U.
The article provides beneficiary perceptions on the effectiveness of the National Directorate of Employment policy on selected agro-chemical small and medium enterprises in Akure, Nigeria. This is against the backdrop that small and medium business development play important roles but such roles are even more significant in a developing country’s economic transformation. With poverty and unemployment at unacceptable levels and currently a big challenge to the government of Nigeria, questions must be asked about current initiatives, so that lessons can be harnessed to better position future programmes that generate employment through activities of Small and Medium Enterprises. Thus, this article focuses on the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme, with its main objective aimed at catering for unemployed youth across the country. Within the NDE programme, the researchers selected the agro–chemical sector in Akure, Ondo State, with a view of understanding beneficiaries’ insights on SME development and its sustainability in the NDE. The study comprised of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative approach) using both primary and secondary data. Empirical data was presented, analysed and recommendations drawn for future programmes.
Risks and barriers in renewable energy development in South Africa through Independent Power Production
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015) Nel, Danielle
The South African energy supply is highly centralised and largely coal-fired. A transition to renewable energy sources is essential if the country is to adapt to the environmental, social, and economic challenges of climate change. Together with private-sector partners, the South African Government has embarked on a Renewable Energy Independent Power Production programme. However, the volume of private investment in renewable energy generation is still low. This article investigates the major risks and barriers to renewable energy market development. Political risk, human capacity, and corruption, are identified as the most serious and likely risks, as well as the barriers stakeholders perceive in the deployment of renewable energy sources, including governance gaps. The identified risks present obstacles to optimum market development for renewable energy and the attraction of sustainable private investment. The findings suggest that policy should focus more on managing the interface between private and the public partners, through increased consensus building, greater transparency, enhanced stakeholder management, more effective administration and improved decision-making.
The impact of a performance management system on service delivery in the city of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015) Radebe, P.Q.; Vyas-Doorgapersad, Shikha
The article is based on a study conducted to investigate the implementation of a performance management system at the City of Johannesburg. The study uses the hypothesis that a well-designed performance management system with well-thoughtout practices and procedures can improve the delivery of services in the City of Johannesburg. In order to validate the hypothesis, empirically based questionnaires on the performance management system and service delivery were utilised. Frequency analysis, which lends itself to correlation analysis, of employees’ responses and residents’ responses was conducted using the Pearson correlation. The findings of the study reveal that managers and subordinates set objectives jointly. However, they are not participants in the evaluation of the municipality’s performance. The research indicated that the key performance areas lacked uniformity, and therefore, created silos in the municipality. The key performance indicators were developed without the involvement of the communities or employees, especially at the lower level of management. The training provided does not capacitate employees to work effectively with the balanced scorecard. The performance management system at the City of Johannesburg is not service oriented, therefore, it is suggested that a model referred to as a convergent model of service delivery-oriented performance management system be used. The aim of the creation of the convergent model could ensure that the performance management system serves as a significant measuring tool and is geared towards the effective delivery of services at all times.
Institutional factors influencing the performance of local governments in monitoring the implementation of decentralisation : the case of Uganda
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015-03) Bwengye, Stephen G.; Thornhill, Christopher
Implementing decentralisation policy reforms by local governments (LGs) in Uganda have been assigned an important role in the implementation of the policy. One such role is the monitoring of decentralisation programmes to ensure that they are efficiently and effectively implemented. In their efforts to execute their monitoring role, a number of institutional factors influence their performance. This article examines the institutional factors affecting the monitoring role of LGs in implementing this policy in Uganda.1 It is demonstrated that the institutional factors including the degree of LGs’ autonomy in exercising decentralised powers; the capacity building extended to LGs; and the working relationship among inter-governmental organs. The collaboration between LGs and civil society organisations have significantly limited the efficiency and effectiveness of LGs’ efforts in executing their monitoring role. The research is based on legislation other policy documents related to local government. And an empirical research in selected local governments. The article is presented from a public administrative point of view. It is argued that both central government and local governments will have to introduce deliberate initiatives to address the problems that are associated with the institutional factors if LGs are to effectively and efficiently execute their monitoring role that will give effect to successful implementation of the decentralisation policy.
Status of public sector employees : the applicability of the Social Dominance Theory as basis for an analysis of social hierarchies
(Association of Teachers in Public Administration, 2015-03) Holtzhausen, Natasja; Malan, Lianne Priscilla
Numerous scholars have debated the reasons why status in individual and organisational behaviour deserves attention as well as how status is socially constructed. Scholars such as Gould (2002:1143) are of the opinion that the importance of the manifestation of status is a result of the social and institutional factors that guide inter-subjective evaluations that lead to difference in status orderings. Other scholars might argue that status can be determined by an individual’s position within his/her social circles (Pearce 2011:27). In this article the term “status” refers to an individual’s or group’s prestige or honour as well as an individual’s claim to respect and compliance in relations with others (Weber 1968 and Blau 1964 in Pearce 2011:25). Status may not necessarily be associated with the qualities that an individual might have, but the emergence of an individual’s status is formed by the social process of inter-subjective evaluation. This article will elaborate on the applicability of the Social Dominance Theory (and the Social Dominance Orientation Scale) to analyse the manifestation of status as a result of the operation of group-based social hierarchies in the South African public sector. Sidanius and Pratto (1999:38) are of the opinion that the Social Dominance Theory draws on a wide range of disciplines and theories in social sciences and highlight the kinds of status hierarchies that exist on the basis of age, gender and other criteria such as ethnicity. When applying the aforementioned theory and scale, the emphasis should be on studying status hierarchies based on ascribed criteria, rather than earned criteria.
Good governance in public-private partnerships approaches and applications : a South African perspective
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2015-03) Fourie, D.J. (David Johannes)
Policy-makers are continuously seeking ways to improve service delivery and the management of facilities. Many governments are turning to the private sector to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure facilities which the public sector is normally responsible for providing. Creating a partnership with the private sector creates the opportunity to avoid the often negative effects of either exclusive public ownership and delivery of services on the one hand, or outright privatisation on the other. The application of good governance in Public-Private Partnerships will be a key component towards the improved service delivery and thus the improvement of quality of life for all citizens.

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