PUB3703
OCTOBER/
NOVEMBER
PORTFOLIO 2026
UNIQUE NO:
DUE DATE: 22-OCTOBER-2026
,PUBLIC POLICY - PUB3703
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026 EXAMINATION
QUESTION 1 [50]
Introduction
Public policy refers to the deliberate decisions, actions and programmes adopted by
government to address problems affecting society. The policy-making process is not
performed by government alone. It involves a network of role players, including political
office-bearers, public officials, legislatures, courts, civil society organisations, interest
groups, the private sector, communities, researchers and the media. Each actor
contributes differently to identifying policy problems, formulating alternatives, adopting
policies, implementing decisions and evaluating outcomes.
The quality of public policy depends significantly on whether these actors are properly
included and whether their respective responsibilities are clearly understood. When
government excludes important stakeholders, policies may fail to reflect community
needs, lack legitimacy or become difficult to implement. In South Africa, examples such
as participatory budgeting, the implementation of social grants and community-based
service delivery demonstrate the benefits of effective participation, while failures
involving municipal service delivery, public housing and some infrastructure projects
illustrate the consequences of weak consultation, poor implementation and inadequate
accountability.
1. Political executive
The political executive consists primarily of the President, Cabinet ministers, premiers
and members of provincial executive councils, as well as municipal political leadership
such as mayors and municipal councils. These actors provide the political direction
within which public policies are developed.
OCTOBER/
NOVEMBER
PORTFOLIO 2026
UNIQUE NO:
DUE DATE: 22-OCTOBER-2026
,PUBLIC POLICY - PUB3703
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026 EXAMINATION
QUESTION 1 [50]
Introduction
Public policy refers to the deliberate decisions, actions and programmes adopted by
government to address problems affecting society. The policy-making process is not
performed by government alone. It involves a network of role players, including political
office-bearers, public officials, legislatures, courts, civil society organisations, interest
groups, the private sector, communities, researchers and the media. Each actor
contributes differently to identifying policy problems, formulating alternatives, adopting
policies, implementing decisions and evaluating outcomes.
The quality of public policy depends significantly on whether these actors are properly
included and whether their respective responsibilities are clearly understood. When
government excludes important stakeholders, policies may fail to reflect community
needs, lack legitimacy or become difficult to implement. In South Africa, examples such
as participatory budgeting, the implementation of social grants and community-based
service delivery demonstrate the benefits of effective participation, while failures
involving municipal service delivery, public housing and some infrastructure projects
illustrate the consequences of weak consultation, poor implementation and inadequate
accountability.
1. Political executive
The political executive consists primarily of the President, Cabinet ministers, premiers
and members of provincial executive councils, as well as municipal political leadership
such as mayors and municipal councils. These actors provide the political direction
within which public policies are developed.
