An assessment of the implementation of batho pele - University of ...

judged by the number of guidelines that have been developed but by the extent
to which they are implemented (www.dpsa.gov.za).
The White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery, which outlines the
eight Batho Pele Principles, was developed and published in 18 September 1997
by the Department of Public Service and Administration. These principles are
expected to be implemented by all government departments in all spheres of
government. In the context of governance, public service delivery is the result of
the intentions and decisions of government and government institutions, and the
actions undertaken and decisions made by people employed in government
institutions (du Toit, Knipe, Van Niekerk, Van der Waldt & Doyle, 2002:5). Fox
and Meyer (1996: 118), on the other hand, define it as the provision of public
activities, benefits or satisfactions. This means that service delivery is the
fulfillment of a mandate that each government department has to undertake for
the purpose of satisfying the basic and important needs of the communities that
have been identified through extensive consultation.
All the Acts and policies of the government have to be adhered to by all the
public servants in the various government institutions at all levels of government.
Van der Waldt and Du Toit (2002:43) maintain that every action of a public official
must be within the limits of enabling provisions of Acts and regulations (intra
vires). Botes (1994:179) also maintains that the laws of the country which have
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