Towards a conceptualisation of the Marxist theory of corruption : the South African case

Abstract

Although there has been a good amount of literature in respect of the relationship among political and administrative leaders and their effect/s on quality management, little has been written on their respective (individual or collective) relationship with corruption. This is because there needs to be an acknowledgement that the researchers’, practitioners’ and politicians’ efforts have to date been inadequate. Political and administrative leaders need to appreciate that the war room against corruption needs new thinking, knowledge, strategies, and comprehensive initiatives if they are to arrest and then reverse corruption’s proliferation. In particular, governments have to move beyond the various one and two dimensional approaches that are advocated by various anti-corruption proponents if the administrative and governmental systems are to become effective in dealing with the situation. In this context the present contribution will examine the fundamental tenets of the political system of South Africa and its role in impeding or encouraging corruption related to decision-making and actions of public servants at all levels in the hierarchy. In this sense the relationship between political and administrative leaders can take either complementary or antagonistic corrupt actions. A case study in political and administrative relations and involvement in corruption will be utilised in order to examine and scrutinise the involvement by politicians and administrators in a leading South African municipality.