PUB1601
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
, PUB1601
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
The Responsibilities of Key Parties in the Management of South African Public
Services: A Case Study of the Department of Basic Education
Introduction
The management of public services in South Africa is embedded within a framework of
cooperative governance, as mandated by the Constitution. This framework emphasizes
a deliberate separation between policy-making, administration, and oversight, with the
aim of ensuring accountability, efficiency, and effective service delivery. Within this
arrangement, multiple parties share responsibilities: political leaders define strategic
directions, internal public officials manage operations, and external managers provide
coordination and oversight across governmental spheres.
Using the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as a case study—responsible for
delivering primary and secondary schooling from Grade R to Grade 12—this discussion
examines the roles of three key actors: political office bearers, public officials in
management positions, and managers external to the department. These roles are
integral to translating national educational policies into tangible outcomes at the school
level, encompassing curriculum implementation, infrastructure development, and the
equitable distribution of resources.
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
, PUB1601
Assignment 2
Semester 2 2025
Due September 2025
The Responsibilities of Key Parties in the Management of South African Public
Services: A Case Study of the Department of Basic Education
Introduction
The management of public services in South Africa is embedded within a framework of
cooperative governance, as mandated by the Constitution. This framework emphasizes
a deliberate separation between policy-making, administration, and oversight, with the
aim of ensuring accountability, efficiency, and effective service delivery. Within this
arrangement, multiple parties share responsibilities: political leaders define strategic
directions, internal public officials manage operations, and external managers provide
coordination and oversight across governmental spheres.
Using the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as a case study—responsible for
delivering primary and secondary schooling from Grade R to Grade 12—this discussion
examines the roles of three key actors: political office bearers, public officials in
management positions, and managers external to the department. These roles are
integral to translating national educational policies into tangible outcomes at the school
level, encompassing curriculum implementation, infrastructure development, and the
equitable distribution of resources.
