Accountability and integrity as unique column of good governance
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/pmf.06(1).2017.08
-
Article InfoVolume 6 2017, Issue #1, pp. 75-82
- Cited by
- 1378 Views
-
968 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
The authors contend that accountability and integrity in public affairs are best preserved through enhancement of an integral system of legal prescripts, law, institutional policies and protocols. In the post-apartheid, South African public officials and political office bearers have been continuously criticized for allegedly transgressing ethical codes. Democracy has been tested due to violations of accountability, integrity and misconducts in the South African public service. However, this study argues that integrity can be enhanced when the society and those that are governing can preserve through specialized institutions legislation where law-makers are working with civil society to instill the culture of integrity.It is imperative to balance what is required for public officials’ conduct and what is done through parliamentary controls and certain caveats of highest honor. The value of accountability and integrity in public affairs can enjoy a resurgence in the last and present decade as the arrangements for public officials to operate in an environment that promotes good governance. This study reveals some concerns over the lack of commitment to preserve existing structures that could serve as mechanisms to promote good governance. A qualitative document analysis is employed to draw data from literature review. This paper’s findings contribute towards ethics and good governance in public administration.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)G34
-
References20
-
Tables0
-
Figures0
-
- Ackerman, B. (2000). The New Separation of Powers. Harvard Law Review, 113(3), 633-729.
- Aldershot: Ash gate. (2009). Head, B. Good Governance and Integrity: The Contributions of Integrity Agencies. Paper to Workshop on Integrity Agencies. University of Canberra, July, 2009.
- Armstrong, E. (2005). Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration: Recent Trends, Regional and International Developments and Emerging Issues. Economics & Social Affairs. Published by United Nations.
- Aulich, C., Batainah, H., and Wettenhall, R. (2010). Autonomy and Control in Australian Agencies: Data and Preliminary Findings from a Cross-National Empirical Study, Australian Journal of Public Administration, 69(2), 214-228.
- Aulich, C. (2011). Integrity Agencies as One Pillar of Integrity and Good Governance, Viešoji politika ir administration, 10(1), 41-52.
- Camerer, M. (ed.). Global Integrity: An Investigative Report Tracking Corruption, Accountability and Openness in 25 Countries. Centre for Public Integrity, Washington, 2004.
- Carpenter, D. (2001). The Forging of Bureaucratic Autonomy: Reputations, Networks and Policy Innovation in Executive Agencies 1862-1928. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
- Christensen, T., Lægreid, P., Roness, P., and Røvik, K. (2007). Organization Theory and the Public Sector: Instrument, Culture and Myth. London: Routledge.
- Coghill, K. (2004). Auditing the independence of the Auditor-General. Democratic Audit Occasional Paper. Australian National University, Canberra.
- Commonwealth (Latimer House). (2004). Principles on the Three Branches of Government. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Commonwealth Legal Education Association, the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association.
- Devos, A. S., Strydom, H., Fouche, C. B., & Delport, C. S. L. (2011). Research at Grassroots. Pretoria: Van Schaik.
- Fitzgerald, G. E. (1989). Report of a Commission of Inquiry into Possible Illegal Activities and Associated Misconduct. Queensland Government, Brisbane.
- Global Integrity Report. (2006).
- Global Integrity Report. (2009).
- Graham, J., Amos, B., and Plumptre, T. (2003). Principles for good governance in the 21st century, Policy brief, 15, 1-6.
- Graham, G., Bruce, A., Plumptre, T., Head, B. W., Brown, A. J., and Connors, C. (eds.). (2008). Promoting Integrity: Evaluating and Improving Public Institutions.
- Heilbrunn, J. R. (2004). Anti-corruption Commissions: Panacea or Real Medicine to Fight Corruption? World Bank Institute, Washington.
- Kaufmann, D., and Kraay, A. (2007). On Measuring Governance: Framing Issues for Debate. Issues Paper for Roundtable on Measuring Governance. World Bank Institute, Washington.
- Lægreid, P., Roness, P., and Rubecksen, K. (2006). Autonomy and Control in the Norwegian Civil Service: Does Agency Form Matter? In: T. Christensen and P. Laegreid (eds.). Autonomy and Regulation. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 235-267.
- Laegreid, P., Verhoest, K., and Jann, W. (2008). The Governance, Autonomy and Coordination of Public Sector Organizations. Public Organization Review, 8(2), 93-96.