Public Service Policy

1994 Words8 Pages
LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR BATHO PELE The advent of democracy was a beacon of hope for the previously divided and segregated communities, and the government was committed to better[ing] the lives of all South Africans, regardless of race and colour. The daunting task of the South African Public Service was to generally improve the lives of citizens. In its quest to provide services in a professional manner and in an equitable, non-racial and cost effective manner, the South African Public Service explored various alternative methods and meaningful ways and systems in which services can reach all South African citizens equally and expediently, particularly those that were previously excluded from having access to proper services.…show more content…
Issues to be addressed that were identified as lacking in the public sector were, amongst others, high productivity, administrative capacity particularly in management, accountability, transparency, efficient service delivery attributed partly to lack of motivation of appointed officials and salaries that are not market related, coherent labour relations and representivity (White Paper on the Transformation of Public Service 1995). In 1997 the Government adopted the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (Batho Pele) as a policy framework for the provision of services. The Batho Pele White Paper provided a policy framework and practical implementation strategy for the more efficient, effective and equitable provision of public services. It was given justification by a number of legislative frameworks, principally the provisions of the Constitution, the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) as government’s macro-economic…show more content…
The Batho Pele White Paper signalled very strongly government’s intention to adopt a citizen-orientated approach to service delivery. It is informed by the eight principles, namely consultation, service standards, access, courtesy, information, openness and transparency, redress, and value for money (Batho Pele Handbook 2003:17). Batho Pele is not a plan, such as a business plan or any other strategy, but rather an attitude or set of values that shape the character of the public service through officials. Although there are officially eight principles, but some provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo have their own additional provincial principles, namely: increasing responsiveness, encouraging innovation and rewarding

More about Public Service Policy

Open Document