An appraisal of the South African Government Macroeconomic Policies and Strategies (1994-2012)
- Authors: Zuma, Siziwe Monica
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11687 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013582
- Description: This study sought to do an overview and the role of Public Administration both as an academic discipline and as a discipline in practice. It sought to do a literature analysis of the macroeconomic policies and strategies that the democratic from 1994- 2012 particularly with regards to lowering unemployment and meeting public needs. The literature review on the Freedom Charter and the South African democratic government’s macroeconomic policies namely the RDP, GEAR, ASGISA, New Growth Plan, and the National Development Plan were studied in great detail in this study. Public Finance in terms of the tax revenues collected and public debt servicing costs have contributed to the capacity of the SA government to meet its public needs and social needs including poverty eradication. It identified that the NDP because of its longer term plan approach its goals could be realizable. It identified that the South African democratic government macroeconomic policy has been consistent since 1994 that of belt tightening or fiscal policy that is tight on fiscal spending and monetary policy also has remained the same although different names have been used over the period 1994-2012. The South African democratic government since 1994 has been pursuing austere fiscal policy. This is because it inherited a government that had high public debt and therefore had to prioritise of servicing that debt. That meant that there has been less funds available to spend on public needs as the aspirations of the people when they drafted and adopted in a congress of the ANC the freedom charter in 1955. The South African democratic government through its macroeconomic policy has created a number of positive changes in the country economically and socially that have benefited a lot of the previously marginalized people of South Africa however the macroeconomic objectives of reducing unemployment, growing the economy, increasing exports and lowering inflation still remain a huge challenge in this country. This study concludes that in order to increase revenues to meet public needs government needs to look at increasing its revenue base rather than borrowing the money as that will create the same challenge that it is currently facing hence it adopted the austere fiscal policy.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Zuma, Siziwe Monica
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11687 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013582
- Description: This study sought to do an overview and the role of Public Administration both as an academic discipline and as a discipline in practice. It sought to do a literature analysis of the macroeconomic policies and strategies that the democratic from 1994- 2012 particularly with regards to lowering unemployment and meeting public needs. The literature review on the Freedom Charter and the South African democratic government’s macroeconomic policies namely the RDP, GEAR, ASGISA, New Growth Plan, and the National Development Plan were studied in great detail in this study. Public Finance in terms of the tax revenues collected and public debt servicing costs have contributed to the capacity of the SA government to meet its public needs and social needs including poverty eradication. It identified that the NDP because of its longer term plan approach its goals could be realizable. It identified that the South African democratic government macroeconomic policy has been consistent since 1994 that of belt tightening or fiscal policy that is tight on fiscal spending and monetary policy also has remained the same although different names have been used over the period 1994-2012. The South African democratic government since 1994 has been pursuing austere fiscal policy. This is because it inherited a government that had high public debt and therefore had to prioritise of servicing that debt. That meant that there has been less funds available to spend on public needs as the aspirations of the people when they drafted and adopted in a congress of the ANC the freedom charter in 1955. The South African democratic government through its macroeconomic policy has created a number of positive changes in the country economically and socially that have benefited a lot of the previously marginalized people of South Africa however the macroeconomic objectives of reducing unemployment, growing the economy, increasing exports and lowering inflation still remain a huge challenge in this country. This study concludes that in order to increase revenues to meet public needs government needs to look at increasing its revenue base rather than borrowing the money as that will create the same challenge that it is currently facing hence it adopted the austere fiscal policy.
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An investigation into social exclusion in the implementation of social grants: the case study of the child support grant in the Nkonkobe local municipality (Eastern Cape)
- Authors: Boniswa, Mashibini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: National Congress -- Child Support Grant -- Eastern Cape Province , Means-testing -- Nkonkobe municipality -- Poverty , Social exclusion -- Social Security -- South African Social Security Agency
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018220 , National Congress -- Child Support Grant -- Eastern Cape Province , Means-testing -- Nkonkobe municipality -- Poverty , Social exclusion -- Social Security -- South African Social Security Agency
- Description: South Africa is faced by a huge problem of inequality, twenty years after the dawn of independence. Such inequalities have been addressed by policy intervention such as the social security and assistance of citizens through various classes of grants. One of the grants targeting children under the age of 18 years is the child support grant. However there are deserving children who have been left-out of mainstream social security through social exclusion. The study sought to investigate the problem of the social exclusion of children from the child support grant in the Nkonkobe municipality. Through the use of the Basic Needs Approach (BNA) to understand the need for any state/government to promote the social welfare of its citizens, the study took a triangulated research paradigm which used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect data from forty respondents by way of a questionnaire survey. The study found out that, inter alia, poverty remains high in the Nkonkobe municipal area, there is rampant social exclusion in the area, the amount paid for the child support grant is little and that the effects of the withdrawal of the grant when the child reaches the age of 18 are unbearable to the child. Some of the recommendations which the study made in line with improved mainstream social security in relation to the child support grant are that, the government needs to improve information dissemination about grants to the populace, there should be mandatory policies to make sure all citizens have identification particulars, the government should be mobile and take services to the people and there should a consideration to review the amount paid for the child support grant upwards. The researcher is quite optimistic that the study will play a part in improving policy implementation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Boniswa, Mashibini
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: National Congress -- Child Support Grant -- Eastern Cape Province , Means-testing -- Nkonkobe municipality -- Poverty , Social exclusion -- Social Security -- South African Social Security Agency
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1018220 , National Congress -- Child Support Grant -- Eastern Cape Province , Means-testing -- Nkonkobe municipality -- Poverty , Social exclusion -- Social Security -- South African Social Security Agency
- Description: South Africa is faced by a huge problem of inequality, twenty years after the dawn of independence. Such inequalities have been addressed by policy intervention such as the social security and assistance of citizens through various classes of grants. One of the grants targeting children under the age of 18 years is the child support grant. However there are deserving children who have been left-out of mainstream social security through social exclusion. The study sought to investigate the problem of the social exclusion of children from the child support grant in the Nkonkobe municipality. Through the use of the Basic Needs Approach (BNA) to understand the need for any state/government to promote the social welfare of its citizens, the study took a triangulated research paradigm which used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect data from forty respondents by way of a questionnaire survey. The study found out that, inter alia, poverty remains high in the Nkonkobe municipal area, there is rampant social exclusion in the area, the amount paid for the child support grant is little and that the effects of the withdrawal of the grant when the child reaches the age of 18 are unbearable to the child. Some of the recommendations which the study made in line with improved mainstream social security in relation to the child support grant are that, the government needs to improve information dissemination about grants to the populace, there should be mandatory policies to make sure all citizens have identification particulars, the government should be mobile and take services to the people and there should a consideration to review the amount paid for the child support grant upwards. The researcher is quite optimistic that the study will play a part in improving policy implementation.
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An investigation of public participation in municipal planning and performance evaluation: a case study of Mnquma Local Municipality
- Authors: Mkentane, Benjamin Zolile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007119 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The participation of communities and community organizations in Municipal governance is set in terms of the law as a mechanism to deepen democracy. Municipalities are required to develop a culture of governance that complements representative democracy with community participation. However the participation of communities in local governance has not translated to the strengthening of governance and the deepening of democracy as municipalities have not done enough to involve communities in municipal affaires. Lack of human resources, and financial capacity have been cited as some of the reasons that beset municipalities and undermine citizen participation. Municipalities have taken steps to encourage community participation and these include establishment of structures to enable participation, however without the guidance and financial support of the municipalities these structures are not able to perform their functions. In spite of all the efforts made by municipalities to encourage participation, a culture of community participation has not yet taken root in local government. While the legislative framework provides for communities to participate, practice shows that the implementation of legislation is complex and requires dedicated capacities within the councils to be effective. This can be achieved when municipalities develop their own community participation policies which address their special circumstances, which must be reviewed on a regular basis. Unless communities are empowered with knowledge on the available participation mechanisms, the dream of a culture of participation will remain just that, a dream. Thus civic education coupled with capacity building of officials will assist in ensuring the development of a culture of participation. Council must also develop mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of community participation processes and procedures, to avoid a one size fits all approach. It is imperative that councils as the legislative arm of municipalities must lead the process and not leave everything to the executive arm.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mkentane, Benjamin Zolile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007119 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The participation of communities and community organizations in Municipal governance is set in terms of the law as a mechanism to deepen democracy. Municipalities are required to develop a culture of governance that complements representative democracy with community participation. However the participation of communities in local governance has not translated to the strengthening of governance and the deepening of democracy as municipalities have not done enough to involve communities in municipal affaires. Lack of human resources, and financial capacity have been cited as some of the reasons that beset municipalities and undermine citizen participation. Municipalities have taken steps to encourage community participation and these include establishment of structures to enable participation, however without the guidance and financial support of the municipalities these structures are not able to perform their functions. In spite of all the efforts made by municipalities to encourage participation, a culture of community participation has not yet taken root in local government. While the legislative framework provides for communities to participate, practice shows that the implementation of legislation is complex and requires dedicated capacities within the councils to be effective. This can be achieved when municipalities develop their own community participation policies which address their special circumstances, which must be reviewed on a regular basis. Unless communities are empowered with knowledge on the available participation mechanisms, the dream of a culture of participation will remain just that, a dream. Thus civic education coupled with capacity building of officials will assist in ensuring the development of a culture of participation. Council must also develop mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of community participation processes and procedures, to avoid a one size fits all approach. It is imperative that councils as the legislative arm of municipalities must lead the process and not leave everything to the executive arm.
- Full Text:
Evaluation of the Performance Management Systems (PMS): a case study of the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasure
- Authors: Baxana, Mandilakhe
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015045
- Description: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Performance Managements System (PMS) policy by looking at the implementation of the PMS in line with provincial and national policies. The purpose is to achieve sustainable improvement in organizational performance whilst examining the value of PMS in assessing performance of the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury employees. The questionnaire was personally delivered to potential respondents. The study showed that the performance management system used by the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury was on track with clear objectives, and was largely integrated with the departments' planning process, primarily through the use of divisional planning objectives as a basis for employee performance agreements. However, the general findings were qualified by the need to address. Several key issues, and to make some improvements to the process. It was also concluded that the revised performance management system should have a stronger emphasis on effective managing, monitoring, reporting and rewarding high performance and correcting low performance respectively. Key recommendations are made to assist this department in its quest to achieve maximum return on the investment from its human capital. The recommendations are: The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury needs to establish clear organizational objectives and the performance management tool should be negotiated and agreed with the union councils and management. The performance measures or key performance indicators should be agreed upfront with all employees, irrespective of their level in the organization.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Baxana, Mandilakhe
- Date: 2013
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1015045
- Description: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Performance Managements System (PMS) policy by looking at the implementation of the PMS in line with provincial and national policies. The purpose is to achieve sustainable improvement in organizational performance whilst examining the value of PMS in assessing performance of the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury employees. The questionnaire was personally delivered to potential respondents. The study showed that the performance management system used by the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury was on track with clear objectives, and was largely integrated with the departments' planning process, primarily through the use of divisional planning objectives as a basis for employee performance agreements. However, the general findings were qualified by the need to address. Several key issues, and to make some improvements to the process. It was also concluded that the revised performance management system should have a stronger emphasis on effective managing, monitoring, reporting and rewarding high performance and correcting low performance respectively. Key recommendations are made to assist this department in its quest to achieve maximum return on the investment from its human capital. The recommendations are: The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury needs to establish clear organizational objectives and the performance management tool should be negotiated and agreed with the union councils and management. The performance measures or key performance indicators should be agreed upfront with all employees, irrespective of their level in the organization.
- Full Text: false
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