Download or read book Local Government in South Africa Since 1994 written by Alexius Amtaika and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This uniquely written and enterprising book reasons that local authorities are created to play two essential roles, namely: (i) service rendering, which is a utilitarian consideration, and (ii) democracy, which is a civic consideration. The utilitarian dimension entails the efficient and effective rendering of services to citizens. It has a bias for recipient-citizens, but also recognizes the fact that citizens, in turn, have an obligation to pay for these services. The civic consideration deals with the values of participation, representation, local autonomy, responsiveness, and fairness. It entails commitment and participation of citizens in the decision-making processes of local government--or contribution of ideas. In this book, Alexius Amtaika develops a compelling form of growing body of knowledge and literature which contend that an effective local government is vital for the provision of goods and services, in partnership with communities, in order to allow the communities themselves to lead healthier and happier lives. He tailors together conceptual issues, classical historical facts, various legislations and empirical data into a single coherent argument, and stresses that the challenges facing local government in South Africa today are historical and systemic, embedded in, and inherited, from the British colonial government's Westminster Model, which was first introduced into South Africa in 1806 and passed on to, and adopted by, various governments in South Africa. He stresses that the changes that took place in South Africa in 1994 were structural changes, and that these change altered fundamentally the structures of old the apartheid government, but maintained the Westminster Model System of governance and government, which has been in place since the beginning of the 19th Century. His case is animated by provocative discussions of topical issues, such as freedom, equality, order, nation-building, democracy, development, leadership, elections, and service delivery. This book is part of the African World Series, edited by Toyin Falola, Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, University of Texas at Austin. "Amtaika takes a critical, yet exploratory view in providing a strong argument for the establishment and existence of local government as a distinct sphere in the post-apartheid state ... It is a good example of how an academic book should be writtin: well-researched, well-organised and well-written." -- Barry R. Hanyane, Journal of Public Administration 51(3.1)

Download or read book Governance and State Delivery in Southern Africa written by Henning Melber and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Discussion Paper highlights in complementary ways the problems and challenges for governance issues under centralized state agencies, which base their authority and legitimacy on a dominant party and its influence. The case study on Namibia argues for a need for parliamentary and administrative reform to improve the efficiency of lawmakers. The Botswana chapter explores the decision on the location of the country’s second university as an act without consultation of the local population. The Zimbabwe paper advocates an approach in favor of using the African Peer Review Mechanism as an instrument to assist in a change towards better governance. All the authors have intimate knowledge of the matters discussed through their own involvement with the respective cases and/or their individual positioning within these societies. This publication is among the final results of the project “Liberation and Democracy in Southern Africa”, which was undertaken at the Institute between 2001 and 2006.

Download or read book Building a Capable State written by Ian Palmer and published by Zed Books Ltd.. This book was released on 2017-11-15 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sustainable development goals signed in 2016 marked a new phase in global development thinking, one which is focused on ecologically and fiscally sustainable human settlements. Few countries offer a better testing ground for their attainment than post-apartheid South Africa. Since the coming to power of the African National Congress, the country has undergone a policy making revolution, driven by an urgent need to improve access to services for the country’s black majority. A quarter century on from the fall of apartheid, Building a Capable State asks what lessons can be learned from the South African experience. The book assesses whether the South African government has succeeded in improving service delivery, focusing on the vital sectors of water and sanitation, energy, roads, public transport and housing. Emphasizing the often-overlooked role of local government institutions and finance, the book demonstrates that effective service delivery can have a profound impact on the social structure of emerging economies, and must form an integral part of any future development strategy. A comprehensive examination of urban service delivery in the global South, Building a Capable State is essential reading for students and practitioners across the social sciences, public finance and engineering sectors.

Download or read book Governance in the New South Africa written by Guy C. Z. Mhone and published by Juta and Company Ltd. This book was released on 2003 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The major challenges confronting South Africa since the advent of non-racial multiparty democracy have been the need to promote democratic governance, economic growth, global competitiveness, and to improve the standard of living of its people, especially the previously disadvantaged majority Black population. These challenges have coincided with the ascendancy of globalisation with its attendant social, economic and political imperatives, all of which have consequences for governance and development at the national level, not least in emerging economies like South Africa. This important book assesses the implications of global imperatives for the nature, capacity, character and scope of democratic governance and the pursuit of equitable development in the new South Africa. A major conclusion is that the implementation of domestic economic reforms predicated on market fundamentalism, with its dominant logic and paradigm of globalisation and economic management, is incompatible and irreconcilable with the quest for democratic governance and equitable development. The contributors contend that such an approach reproduces a substantively undemocratic and inequitable society. "Governance in the New South Africa" concludes by offering some considerations related to how substantive democracy and equitable development may be promoted in South Africa on the basis of democratic governance and developmentalism.

Download or read book The Governance of Transitions The Transitions of Governance written by Martijn van der Steen and published by AFRICAN SUN MeDIA. This book was released on 2018-12-12 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why is societal transition not simply a matter of change management or normal policy design? South Africa is living proof of the ability of a society to reinvent and reinstall itself. With the advent of new societal challenges, came the need for real societal innovation, especially in sectors where it was never deemed necessary or possible before. This book asks: What type of governance is helpful for developing new societal institutions and systems that can overcome systemic crises in emerging economies and fragile communities? What emerges is a compilation of chapters that introduce different parts of a solution which can be used in developing both a growing body of practices of 'governed' societal transitions and the associated transition of governance. The Governance of Transitions - The Transitions of Governance, in part, aims to provide building blocks which government and society could use to develop strategies for creating sustainable outcomes. It considers what kind of leadership, organisation or methods for accountability enable new types of governance and what the most important barriers are.

Download or read book Security Governance and State Fragility in South Africa written by Edward L. Mienie and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2020-03-06 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do existing measures of state fragility measure fragility accurately? Based on commonly used fragility measures, South Africa (SA) is classified as a relatively stable state, yet rising violent crime, high unemployment, endemic poverty, eroding public trust, identity group based preferential treatment policies, and the rapid rise of the private security sector are all indications that SA may be suffering from latent state fragility. Based on a comprehensive view of security, this study examines the extent to which measures of political legitimacy and good governance, effectiveness in the security system – especially with respect to the police system – and mounting economic challenges may be undermining the stability of SA in ways undetected by commonly used measures of state fragility. Using a mixed-methods approach based on quantitative secondary data analysis and semi-structured interviews with government officials, security practitioners, and leading experts in the field, this study finds that the combination of colonization, apartheid, liberation struggle, transition from autocracy to democracy, high levels of direct and structural violence, stagnating social, political, and economic developments make South Africa a latently fragile state. Conceptually, the results of this research call into question the validity of commonly used measures of state fragility and suggest the need for a more comprehensive approach to assessing state fragility. Practically, this study offers a number of concrete policy recommendations for how South Africa may address mounting levels of latent state fragility.

Download or read book Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa written by Isioma Ile and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-11-02 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a holistic perspective and analysis of democratic practice, processes, and governance in South Africa. It examines the development in the South African governing system and its response to the challenges of the crisis of governance under the influence of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While doing so, the book's central objective is to examine the progress of the South African government in strengthening democracy and political governance. Each of the contributions follows a similar structure and addresses the following thematic issues: (1) Assessment of the implementation of the core APRM-related programs; (2) Identification of areas of excellence and prognosis for further improvement; (3) Identification of the weak areas of each and how to make the future implementation better, (4) Identification areas to improve democracy and political governance. A self-assessment strategy initiated by the African Union (AU) in 2002 and adopted in 2003, the APRM is a voluntary mechanism adopted by countries in the African continent to improve governance in general. As a specialized AU agency, APRM monitors the peer review activities of each African country. It serves as a tool for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards, and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development, and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration. This book will be useful for and appeal to scholars and researchers in political science, public administration, and the social sciences in general, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of democratic practice and processes, governance, public policy, and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Download or read book The Politics of Service Delivery written by Anne Mc Lennan and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Securing economic growth by ensuring that its rewards are distributed to the poor and marginalised through social grants and effective delivery, remains a key challenge facing South Africa. This title examines the obstacles to effective service delivery and, in a series of case studies, reflects on lessons for delivery in developing countries.

Download or read book Military Politics and Democratization in Southern Africa written by Tendai Chari and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-09-11 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores multiple challenges faced by democratization in Southern Africa. Applying a wider lens to the concept of political transition and employing a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches, the contributions gathered here explore residual political cultural practices that hinder democratic consolidation in Southern Africa. Presenting various case studies, the book tackles themes such as the military-political nexus, leadership renewal, constitutionalism, electoral politics, election violence, marginalization of women, civil society and political transition, media framing and transitional justice. Written from a multidisciplinary perspective and drawing on empirical data from multiple sources, this edited volume challenges orthodox conceptualizations of political transition. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of political science, African studies, and related fields, as well as policy-makers and professionals interested in the latest political developments in Southern Africa.

Download or read book Public Procurement Corruption and the Crisis of Governance in Africa written by Nirmala Dorasamy and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-03-21 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book establishes a nexus between corruption in public procurement and the prevailing crisis of governance in Africa. The African continent is characterised by the growing concern for the deteriorating human security. In the midst of these woes, African political leaders are known for their stupendous wealth and riches through expropriation of national resources for personal benefits. This growing inequality in the continent has become a major driver for a series of violent and criminal activities, which have added to the worsening governance crisis. Thus, the abuse of public power for advancing private gain constitutes an impediment to effective public service delivery, thereby engendering a crisis of governance. The consequence of this is not limited to the socio-economic growth and welfare of citizens, but it often also jeopardizes the democratic credentials and objectives of the state.

Download or read book Democratising Local Government written by and published by Juta and Company Ltd. This book was released on 2002 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Local government is at the forefront of development. In South Africa the ambitious policy objectives of post-apartheid reconstruction and development hinge on the successful creation of a democratic tier of government close to the people. An entirely new system of 'developmental local government' has thus been introduced. As is the case in many developing countries, the responsibilities of municipalities in South Africa have been extended dramatically, often without adequate resources. Managing municipalities for development therefore requires political will and strategic intervention. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to developmental local government. It includes: the design of the new local government system and the issues posed by decentralisation; an overview of specific challenges of urban and rural municipalities; a discussion of special issues facing local government including poverty, gender and environment; new tools for local government, including budgeting, indicators, municipal partnerships and capacity building.

Download or read book Building a Capable State written by Ian Palmer (Civil engineer) and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Political Economy of Government Subsidised Housing in South Africa written by Sithembiso Lindelihle Myeni and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-08-15 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book unpacks the political economy of government subsidised housing programmes in South Africa. Exploring government policy towards subsidised housing in South Africa, this edited collection analyses various programmes, their shortcomings and potential options to address these weaknesses in the context of a country suffering from an exponential demand for housing in the face of insufficient supply. The Political Economy of Government Subsidised Housing in South Africa looks at the complex and contested nature of the issue in post-apartheid South Africa, stimulating debate and knowledge sharing on housing programmes, proffering solutions to the issue. The book explores the issue from both practical and intellectual standpoints, exploring the relationship between historical institutional legacies and contemporary power structures, and their role in provision of housing for the growing population of South Africa. This book will be of great interest to students of urban and regional planning, political economy, development studies, and African studies.

Download or read book Public Administration in Africa written by Shikha Vyas-Doorgapersad and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-25 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With contributions from leading regional scholars, Public Administration in Africa: Performance and Challenges examines the complexities of the art of governance from the unique African perspective. The editors bring together a cohesive study of the major issues and regions by taking an analytic approach with the strong problem-solution application. Regions addressed range from South Africa, Congo, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, and Botswana. Themes include colonialism, reform, poverty, economy, decentralization, financing, media, political structures, and more. Beginning with an analysis of the relationship of policy design and its destination, service delivery, the book discusses the historical development of a state that has gone through upheavals in government and explores a decayed political economy that ultimately results in a need for sweeping measures. The text examines the issues emerging policy-makers in Africa must tackle, namely poverty and the denial or lack of resources to keep a dignified human life. It highlights how the media can be a catalyst for good governance and provides analytical aspects of implementing good governance reforms. The book concludes with an examination of the concepts of decentralization and devolution in measuring service delivery performance and an exploration of Africa’s economic success story. It also details the African Peer Review Mechanisms in selected African countries and provides a holistic analysis of local government functioning in Africa. These features and more make it an interdisciplinary reference for diverse social, economic, political, and administrative issues.

Download or read book Civil Society Organisations and State Owned Enterprises in South Africa Promoting Accountability and Corporate Governance written by Gudo, Julieth and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2024-03-09 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the important role which civil society organisations in South Africa play in challenging poor corporate governance in state-owned enterprises and demanding better government accountability, transparency and citizen participation. The book provides a powerful examination of the shortcomings in corporate governance in South Africa's state-owned enterprises, highlighting how civil society organisations, as citizen representatives, can push for change. It examines the legal provisions used by civil society organisations in South Africa to advance good corporate governance and accountability in state-owned enterprises. The book demonstrates the need for an enabling legal environment for civil society organisations to challenge poor governance in state-owned enterprises. Also critical is enforcing laws, so those responsible for poor corporate governance in SOEs are held accountable. The book will be useful to policy advisors, public servants and social justice activists, as well as to postgraduate students and researchers who are interested in African governance and accountability.

Download or read book The Economic Roots of Conflict and Cooperation in Africa written by W. Ascher and published by Springer. This book was released on 2013-11-07 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book combines overviews of the nature and causes of inter-group violence in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa with a collection of country case studies. Both the overview chapter and the case studies trace how economic policy initiatives, and consequent changes in the roles and statuses of various groups, shape conflict or cooperation.

Download or read book Governance and the postcolony written by David Everatt and published by Wits University Press. This book was released on 2019-08-01 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a robust, critical assessment of power and accountability in the sub-Saharan context, this text brings together topical case studies that will be a valuable resource for those working in the field of African international relations, public policy, public management and administration.