Review 3 final 2 - TAU - National Treasury

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNIT REVIEW | From “Kuvernan” to Cyber-Networks
South African Context
South Africa is currently deemed a liberal democracy.
As political and economic liberalization processes took
place after a closed, illegitimate and authoritarian political
system came to an end in 1994, the opening up
of the economy has meant a less protectionist state,
that allows for greater individual rights to freely participate
in the politics and economy of the country
while protecting private property and life of its citizenry
(Gildenhuys and Knipe 2000: 28). A liberal state
by its very definition promotes freedom of association
and, in that way, promotes the proliferation of networks;
networks that redefine state authority and promote
different methods of governance. South Africa
is increasingly working along these lines (of networks)
both within its constitutional framework and beyond
as the following areas indicate.
Co-operative governance and the network
state
The South African constitution also sets out the principles
of co-operation between national, provincial
and local spheres of government. The third chapter of
the constitution states that Parliament must pass legislation
facilitating ‘inter-governmental relations’ and
delegates certain powers and functions to the various
tiers of government. This is a significant issue as far as
decentralized government is concerned and offers an
opportunity for more deliberative and participatory
method of public policy making.
The shift from local government to local governance
is also illustrative of the widespread dissatisfaction
with the limited reach of set solutions to difficult and
nuanced political issues imposed through top-down
government intervention (Hajer and Wagenaar 2003:
6); and proposes a more creative, bottom-up approach
that views public policy making as an increasingly
discursive process that has legitimacy as far as it can
address the many facets of public life, through proper
consultation with those that are affected the most by
such policy. Our Local Government Elections provide
a defined milestone in local governance and we are
watching with interest the results of these and the impact
on developmental local government.
The idea of governing through networks, and networks
exercising various means and power in discursive
policy processes, raises the issue of social inclusion
and social exclusion in policy making processes. Ability
to access the technologies, organisations, individuals
and processes that enable social inclusion are also key
and, as such, an important consideration here is the
ability of vulnerable groups, such as women, children
and people with disabilities to influence policy making
processes and be part and parcel of the governance of
the nation state.
The Constitution of South Africa:
Custodians of Good Governance
Within such ‘modern moments’ of considering governance
within the hyper knowledge and digital age, it is
reassuring to note that these issues are taken up very
clearly in the Constitution of South Africa and in particular
in Section 195 which enshrines the “Basic Values
and Principles governing public administration”.
Therefore South Africa has set out a legal and moral
undertaking to govern within values and principles as
outlined. Furthermore, beyond the moral imperatives
as well as the statutory frameworks that legislate specific
areas inherent in the values and principles, South
Africa has set oversight mechanisms that measure and
offer informed commentary on whether we match up
to the ideals of good governance. Naturally, there is the
supremacy of Parliament in terms of oversight. There is
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Enabling change for development