An exploration of ethical conduct in the South African public sector: a case of the Eastern Cape Department of Education

Gwanzura, Owen

Title: An exploration of ethical conduct in the South African public sector: a case of the Eastern Cape Department of Education
Creator: Gwanzura, Owen
Subject: Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Subject: Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions
Subject: Accountability
Subject: Auditor-General
Subject: Code of Conduct
Subject: Corruption
Subject: Eastern Cape Department of Education
Subject: Ethical Conduct
Subject: Unethical Conduct
Date: 2012
Type: Thesis
Type: Masters
Type: MPA
Identifier: vital:11672
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007121
Identifier: Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Responsibility -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Political corruption -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Ethics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Fraud -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
Identifier: Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Economic conditions
Identifier: Accountability
Identifier: Auditor-General
Identifier: Code of Conduct
Identifier: Corruption
Identifier: Eastern Cape Department of Education
Identifier: Ethical Conduct
Identifier: Unethical Conduct
Description: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has become like a problem child in the Republic of South Africa. It is a cause for concern to both the provincial and national government. This is a department where service delivery is problematic. Schools are not built or renovated and children are taught in dilapidated structures or sometimes under trees. Hardly a week passes without the department making the headlines in the media for the wrong reasons. It is widely accepted that the department is dysfunctional and education is in a crisis. The department has emerged as the number one culprit of engaging in corrupt activities in the province. Public officials in the department have been identified as being at the helm of these corrupt activities. In the 200/10 financial year, the Auditor General issued a disclaimer to the department and highlighted a lack of direction, accountability and a total breakdown of internal control systems and supply chain management within the department. Numerous fraud risk indicators were identified during the audit and underlined by findings that are indicative of fraud and corruption within the department. This unfortunate state of affairs is contrary to the requirements of section 195(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which provides for the democratic values and principles governing public administration including inter alia, that: A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. Public administration must be accountable. This raises several questions about the ethical fitness of public officials in the department as the custodians of the public resources and trust. Though several reasons abound for this unfavourable state of affairs in the department, the researcher has singled out unethical conduct by public officials in the department and its impact on service delivery. The approach followed in this research was to analyse the 2009/10 Department of Education Annual Report and the 2009/10 Auditor General’s Report to the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The analysis confirmed the existence and occurrence of multiple cases of unethical conduct in the department. At the end scientific recommendations are proposed to alleviate this ill.
Format: 131 leaves; 30 cm
Format: pdf
Publisher: University of Fort Hare
Publisher: Faculty of Management & Commerce
Language: English
Rights: University of Fort Hare

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