CHAPTER 4: THE PUBLIC SECTOR
PROMOTING PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Latin concept pro bono publico (for the benefit of the people) suggests that the role of the
State must be to provide goods and services in the interests of the people or for the
public good
Phrase ‘public interest’ is ambiguous
o Has implications for authenticity of public participation
E.g. South African national development’s interpretation of public interest/good meant the
exclusion of black people in regards to policy formulation and implementation prior to 1994
o Post 1994 – the role of the state is purposefully geared towards promoting the
development of all South Africans in regards to a range of people centered
development policies and programs
Promoting good governance (broad term that gained currency at end of 20th century)
includes:
o Respect for human rights
o The rule of law
o Accountability to the public
o Transparent government
o Regular free and fair elections
o Freedom of speech
What should the public sector deliver in terms of development?
o What does the public sector do?
o Specific legislation that requires public sector institutions and organisations to
promote and support development
o The concept of good governance and how it is understood in contemporary South
Africa in relation to development
4.2 WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR?
Generally, includes all institutions and organisations which:
o Operate within the three branches of government
o Are engaged in the implementation of government policy and the administration of
laws within the three spheres of government
o Are accountable and responsible to a political authority (e.g. cabinet or parliament)
A feature of SA public sector is that many individuals and groups have an interest in what it
does
o General public: pay for public goods and services
o Politicians: elected representatives for citizen interests
o Professional PDM in the bureaucracy
o Private sector
Multiplicity of different stakeholders with legitimate interest in the public sector and seek to put
pressure on and influence public policies to achieve maximum benefit in terms of outcomes
, 4.3 WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC SECTOR DO?
Primarily designs and implements policies and programmes that aim to fulfil the government’s
broad social and economic development objectives
o These are usually determined by the ruling political party (or parties in cases of
coalitions) through the implementation of the political mandate granted by the
electorate
The public sector does the following:
o Formulates social and economic policies
Public sector (especially core departments) formulates and enforces policies
that cover virtually everything the government does
Serve to promote the political objectives and ideologies of the current
government
o Designs and implements public programmes
Policies are realized through the design and delivery of public programmes
and projects involving the delivery of public services, the production of goods
or transfers of resources to individuals, organisations or other spheres of
government
Also use regulation as a tool for achieving policy goals in a manner that is
often closely related to the ruling party’s political objectives and ideology
o Raises revenue
Government raises funds in order to implement its programmes and projects
Public sector collects taxes and user fees that are levied on the public and
companies
Also use tax policy as a means to pursue social and economic goals or
encourage certain forms of investment or industrial development
Could also raise revenue by selling public assets
o Manages accountability
Public demands accountability in return for the powers granted to the
executive to raise and spend revenue
Public sector responds by enforcing internal accountability measures and by
reporting back to the public in regards to the successes and failures of their
money expenditure
Democratic governments typically create institutions of accountability that are
empowered to oversee the government’s actions and demand explanations
Key institutions include:
Public Protector
Auditor-General
Public Service Commission
The judiciary
Human Rights Commission
Gender Commission
Public administration must be governed by democratic values and principles
highlighted in the Constitution, including:
Public administration must be development oriented
People’s needs must be responded to and encouraged to participate
in policy making
High standard of professional ethics must be promoted and
sustained
Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted
Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without
bias
PROMOTING PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT AND GOOD GOVERNANCE
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Latin concept pro bono publico (for the benefit of the people) suggests that the role of the
State must be to provide goods and services in the interests of the people or for the
public good
Phrase ‘public interest’ is ambiguous
o Has implications for authenticity of public participation
E.g. South African national development’s interpretation of public interest/good meant the
exclusion of black people in regards to policy formulation and implementation prior to 1994
o Post 1994 – the role of the state is purposefully geared towards promoting the
development of all South Africans in regards to a range of people centered
development policies and programs
Promoting good governance (broad term that gained currency at end of 20th century)
includes:
o Respect for human rights
o The rule of law
o Accountability to the public
o Transparent government
o Regular free and fair elections
o Freedom of speech
What should the public sector deliver in terms of development?
o What does the public sector do?
o Specific legislation that requires public sector institutions and organisations to
promote and support development
o The concept of good governance and how it is understood in contemporary South
Africa in relation to development
4.2 WHAT IS THE PUBLIC SECTOR?
Generally, includes all institutions and organisations which:
o Operate within the three branches of government
o Are engaged in the implementation of government policy and the administration of
laws within the three spheres of government
o Are accountable and responsible to a political authority (e.g. cabinet or parliament)
A feature of SA public sector is that many individuals and groups have an interest in what it
does
o General public: pay for public goods and services
o Politicians: elected representatives for citizen interests
o Professional PDM in the bureaucracy
o Private sector
Multiplicity of different stakeholders with legitimate interest in the public sector and seek to put
pressure on and influence public policies to achieve maximum benefit in terms of outcomes
, 4.3 WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC SECTOR DO?
Primarily designs and implements policies and programmes that aim to fulfil the government’s
broad social and economic development objectives
o These are usually determined by the ruling political party (or parties in cases of
coalitions) through the implementation of the political mandate granted by the
electorate
The public sector does the following:
o Formulates social and economic policies
Public sector (especially core departments) formulates and enforces policies
that cover virtually everything the government does
Serve to promote the political objectives and ideologies of the current
government
o Designs and implements public programmes
Policies are realized through the design and delivery of public programmes
and projects involving the delivery of public services, the production of goods
or transfers of resources to individuals, organisations or other spheres of
government
Also use regulation as a tool for achieving policy goals in a manner that is
often closely related to the ruling party’s political objectives and ideology
o Raises revenue
Government raises funds in order to implement its programmes and projects
Public sector collects taxes and user fees that are levied on the public and
companies
Also use tax policy as a means to pursue social and economic goals or
encourage certain forms of investment or industrial development
Could also raise revenue by selling public assets
o Manages accountability
Public demands accountability in return for the powers granted to the
executive to raise and spend revenue
Public sector responds by enforcing internal accountability measures and by
reporting back to the public in regards to the successes and failures of their
money expenditure
Democratic governments typically create institutions of accountability that are
empowered to oversee the government’s actions and demand explanations
Key institutions include:
Public Protector
Auditor-General
Public Service Commission
The judiciary
Human Rights Commission
Gender Commission
Public administration must be governed by democratic values and principles
highlighted in the Constitution, including:
Public administration must be development oriented
People’s needs must be responded to and encouraged to participate
in policy making
High standard of professional ethics must be promoted and
sustained
Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted
Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without
bias
