Governance Leadership in the Public Service in South Africa: Reasons and Consequences

Abstract

At the core of South Africa’s challenges lies political interference, coupled with ineffective and corrupt leadership within the public service. The article analyses the reasons for and the consequences of leadership of governance in the public service in South Africa. The challenges of leadership, poor service delivery, resultant protests and violent demonstrations, and corruption should be thoroughly investigated. This article, based on qualitative desktop research with a deductive approach, examines the nature and extent of political and administrative relationships in the public service. It establishes the extent to which political influence and the cadre deployment policy influence effective and efficient public services, and consequently, the delivery of quality services to the citizenry. The reasons for poor service delivery include poor governance, leadership, and performance issues stemming from incapacity, as well as an inadequate political and administrative interface, which have a negative impact and result in corruption and service delivery protests. The research suggests that for efficiency, the public service in South Africa should be professionalised. Appointments in the public service should be made on merit, not based on political beliefs or allegiances. The professionalisation of the public service is one of the key factors in resolving the status quo.