African Journal of Public Affairs Volume 9, Number 2 (2016)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/59919

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Front matter, African Journal of Public Affairs, Volume 9, Number 1
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016)
Innovative leadership against corruption in the public sector : the case for South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016) Mantzaris, E.A.
The article will identify and analyse the significance of creativity and innovation as essential aspects of innovative leadership in the public sector. Innovation denotes the synthesis of different leadership styles that influence employees to produce creative ideas, products, services and solutions. In this process the role of the innovative leader and his/her creative planning and initiatives is indispensable as he/she shapes the nature and success of creative efforts within the organisation. The article posits that innovation has some similarities with creativity, a concept that denotes a new synthesis of ideas that might or not be put in practice. Innovation leadership is quite a complex concept that denotes the strategic and visionary role of the leader in shaping organisational roles and different modes of planning, design, decision-making, implementation, assessment and monitoring of outputs that aspire to be innovative both in theory and practice. Innovation leadership’s connection to creativity is directly related in many ways to organisational encouragement that allows strategic tactical and organisational renewal based on well-thought plans that permeate the whole spectrum of the organisation. The article further pinpoints the significance for an innovative leader to guide a public organisation in shaping, adjusting strategies and tactics against corruption at all operational levels.
Catchment management through integrated water resource management and co-operative governance in a municipal area
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016) Nealer, E.J.
The Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, 27 of 1998 established new municipal areas according to, amongst other, geographical parameters such as interdependence of communities, grouped and connected logistical capacity, existing magisterial boundaries, land use patterns (e.g. topocadastral farm boundaries), political reasons (e.g. location of voters), and the topographical, environmental and physical characteristics of an area. Unfortunately, the geographical jurisdiction of the municipalities for the purpose of improving integrated municipal management (e.g. planning, organising and control) neither acknowledges nor utilises the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)’s identifi ed and demarcated surface water (rivers) catchment boundaries. This could lead to ineffective, inefficient and uneconomical municipal environmental services, and water and sanitation management. By determining the status of the geographical, geo-hydrological and macroorganisational arrangements of the municipal service providers and public managers in various municipal areas through an extensive literature review and archival research since 2010, the author found the aforementioned prevalent in all the researched municipal areas. It was concluded that the use of surface water catchments in regional public planning and organising is essential to facilitate, amongst other, effective integrated water resources management and co-operative governance in the local sphere of government in a developing South Africa.
Implementing performance management in local governance in South Africa : case study of West Rand District Municipality
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016) Nzimakwe, T.I.; Ntshakala, T.E.
The post-1994 era proclaimed a period of transition for municipalities in South Africa. Within the sphere of local government, performance management has been identified as a tool for promoting accountability. Together with strategic planning, benchmarking and continuous improvement, performance measurement forms the nucleus for managing for results in any sphere of government. The aim of this article is to assess the degree to which performance management has been implemented at the West Rand District Municipality. The West Rand District Municipality (WRDM) is a Category C Municipality, located on the South Western edge of Gauteng Province of South Africa. WRDM comprises four local municipalities namely, Mogale City, Merafong City, Randfontein and Westonaria. The stratified sampling approach was used in selecting the respondents that participated in the questionnaires. The article recommends that, performance management needs to be strengthened such that it measures the actual delivery of services and a formal performance management system needs to be designed. Also, as part of strengthening governance, local government through the councillors should report regularly to communities they serve. Though there is alignment in the process of planning, implementation and performance management, the conclusion of this article is that the systems for monitoring remain a challenge that needs to be addressed by local government.
The relationship between public administration and good governance : the case of South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016) Pillay, P.
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.
An overview of training and development on performance enhancement
(African Journal of Public Affairs, 2016-03) Sekgala, T.K.; Holtzhausen, Natasja
The democratic dispensation in South Africa compelled government to implement skills development legislation to intensify employees’ capacity development. The evolution of democratic values triggered both the public and private sectors to invest in their existing and prospective employees. The public service departments and private companies have been obliged to conduct skills needs analyses, develop workplace skills plans, and implement training and development programmes as prescribed by various pieces of legislation. Employee training and development allow organisations to maximize the achievement of management objectives of the department, resolve organisational problems, and align employees’ culture and personal thinking to the values, culture, mission and vision of the department. This article considers training and development programmes as essential variables for improving employees’ performance and explores whether there is a strong relationship between training and development and performance improvement in the public service.
Quangos and chapter 9 institutions in the governance of the state : leadership issues and reforms in developing and emerging nations
(African Journal of Public Affairs, 2016-03) Kuye, Jerry O.
This article examines the importance of Quangos and Chapter 9 Institutions in the governance of the state. It explores the leadership dilemmas and progress made by many African countries since independence of individual nation states. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 has established six independent state institutions, which contribute to supporting constitutional democracy. These six institutions are namely; the Public Protector, the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC), the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (the CRL Commission), the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the Auditor-General and the Electoral Commission. This article will discuss the intricacies of the term ‘quango’, as there are varied definitions of the concept, which can ultimately impact the application of the term. An international perspective will be viewed to emphasis the myriad of organisations and bodies that may fall under the common heading of quango. Also, a historical overview of quangos will be provided. In addition, an analysis of the issues of accountability and autonomy surrounding the existence of such public bodies will be provided. In-depth synopsis of the relationship quangos have in relation to chapter 9 Institutions and State-Owned Enterprises in South Africa will be explored. One common misconception is the idea that quangos are new phenomena; the use of such bodies is hardly new.
Technical budgeting problems in Anglophone African countries : a strategy to minimise the problems
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016-03) Fourie, D.J. (David Johannes)
The purpose of this paper is to develop a strategy to address technical budget problems emanating from the techniques used in the budget preparation aspect of budgeting systems in select Anglophone African countries. The objectives are consequently to firstly select a sample of Anglophone African states for study; secondly, to examine the nature and functioning of budget systems in general; thirdly, to identify the techniques used in budgeting systems in general and the selected countries in particular; fourthly, to identify the technical problems emanating from the techniques utilised in the selected countries; and lastly to develop a strategy to deal with the major technical problems experienced in the selected countries.
The registration of professional designations on the NQF : a South African policy predicament?
(African Consortium of Public Administration, 2016-03) Cedras, Jody P.
South African Qualifi cations Authority (SAQA) completed the development of and is implementing the Policy and Criteria for Recognising a Professional Body and Registering a Professional Designation for the Purposes of the National Qualifi cations Framework Act, Act 67 of 2008. The entity has recognised 85 professional bodies and registered 290 professional designations since July 2012. However, this article argues that there is a legal and subsequent policy error related to the registration of professional designations on the NQF. This must be rectifi ed in law and in policy. While professional designations do have a relationship to the NQF by virtue of underlying qualifi cations, designations in itself cannot be registered on the NQF. However, through another mechanism, the National Learners’ Records Database, a separate register for professional designations must be established in order to measure the real impact of professionalisation in contributing to the continuing transformation in South Africa. Addressing unfair exclusionary practices within the professions will require political will and consistency in ensuring meaningful stakeholder participation, academic rigour and investment in ensuring sustainable capacity in regard to systems, people and money.

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