2025 – DUE 29 August 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
Question 1.1: Explain the concept of 'Batho-Pele principles',
including the background thereof (15 Marks)
Introduction to Batho-Pele Principles:
The term Batho Pele is a Sesotho phrase meaning "People
First". The Batho Pele principles are a set of guidelines
introduced by the South African government to transform the
public service and improve the quality of services delivered to
citizens. These principles aim to ensure that the public service is
people-oriented, transparent, accountable, and efficient.
Background:
The Batho Pele principles were introduced in 1997 as part of the
White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery
(Batho Pele White Paper). This initiative was driven by the
post-apartheid government’s need to reform public service
delivery, which had previously been inefficient, unequal, and
inaccessible to the majority of South Africans.
The transformation aimed to align public services with the
values of the new democratic South Africa, such as equality,
access to services, and human dignity. It was part of a broader
public service reform program under the Public Service Act,
1994, and later reinforced through the Public Service
Regulations, 2001.