Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
One of the basic values and principles governing public administration enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Chapter 10) is that “a high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.
The public sector is characterised by unprofessional and unethical conduct.
Can an unethical, unprofessional public servant be trusted to deliver services?
Can, for example, a debt-trapped public servant who survives on borrowing money from micro-lenders, who cannot manage personal finances, be trusted to efficiently manage public funds and thus enhance service delivery?
Can an incompetent, corrupt, disloyal, unaccountable, shoddy public servant who flouts the principles of Batho Pele and the code of conduct be entrusted with the responsibilities of ensuring a better life for all?
Professional and Ethical Conduct in the Public Sector.
Relative to ethics is professionalism, which entails a high standard of work and adherence to certain standards and principles pertaining to specific work to be done.
Professionalism embodies skills, competence, efficiency and effectiveness. Public institutions exist for the public good and employ public servants to render services to ensure a better life for all.
The answers to these questions constitute the core of this article and addresses strategies/mechanisms that unearths these ‘ills’.
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