NATURE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
3.5 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
• Inclusiveness
• Civic pride, civic responsibility and civic obedience 3.4.5 Public management principles
The following, according to Gildenhuys and Knipe (2000: 123-130), are the public management principles with which government should comply to attain good governance:
• The basic principle
• Organisational development
• Open-systems approach
• Value-oriented public management approach
• Responsiveness
• Public participation in decision making
• Free choice of public services
• Responsibility for programme effectiveness
• Social equity
• Corporate management
• Economy, efficiency and effectiveness
• Flexibility and management of change
• Sustainability and consistency
• Accountability, responsibility and transparency
vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society (UNESCAP, 2002:0nline)
Figure 3.1 Characteristics of good governance
Consensus oriented Accountable
Participatorv Transparent
EQuitable and inclusive GOOD
GOVERNANCE Follows the rule law
Effective and Efficient
Source: (UNESCAP, 2002: Online) 3.5.1 Participation
Respo,,~ive
Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance (UNESCAP, 2002:0nline). Participation could be either direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives.
It is important to point out that representative democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into consideration in decision-making. Participation needs to be informed and organised. This means freedom of association and expression on the one hand and an organised civil society on the other hand.
In Clarke's view (1996: 60) serious attention needs to be given to ways in which representative democracy can be strengthened by bringing a wider range of views, knowledge and judgement into the process and also to ways in which power can be shared, with particular interests or in the management of services and institutions.
3.5.2 Rule of law
Rule of law/supremacy of law signifies a state of government and administration under which the executive institutions and political executive functionaries do not have too wide and unchecked powers allowing them to act arbitrarily against the citizens (Cloete, 1995:
68).
Good governance requIres fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.
According to Bayat and Meyer (1994: 37-38) the rule of law concept would allow for the powers of a government to be conditioned by law.
All citizens must be equal in the eyes of the law and be subordinate to the law. Courts of law should function separately from both the legislature and the executive. Judges should act as impartial protectors to ensure that the rights and freedom of individuals are guaranteed.
3.5.3 Transparency
Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations. It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is proviLled in easily understandable forms and media (UNESCAP, 2002: Online).
Van der Waldt's assertion in Van Niekerk et al (2002: 119) is that transparency concerns the extent to which the functioning of government institutions is open to public scrutiny. This requires mechanisms to ensure that all public processes and programmes are open to the public.
3.5.4 Responsiveness
Good governance requires that institutions and processes aim to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
The responsiveness of public institutions to individual problems, needs and values, as well as those of specific groups, should be increased and secured (Bayat & Meyer, 1994: 38). A new set of norms in the field of public administration is required to provide a satisfactory response to the needs and demands of society, especially in socio-economic fields such as housing, education and urban infrastructure.
3.5.5 Consensus-oriented
There are several actors and as many view points in a given society.
Good governance requires mediation of the different interests in
society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole community and how this can be achieved.
It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community (UNESCAP 2002: Online).
3.5.6 Equity and inclusiveness
A society's well-being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, to have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being (UNESCAP 2002: Online).
According to Clarke (1996: 128) equity is about evenness of access and ensuring that there is no discrimination inherently built into service provision. The importance of equity has grown as it hds been recognised that there are a number of ways in which discriminatory practice creeps in.
3.5.7 Effectiveness and efficiency
Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making the best use of the resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
Effectiveness, according to Pollitt et al (1998:10), is the extent to which the original objectives of a policy, programme or preject are achieved. Efficiency is the ratio between inputs and outputs. To be efficient is to maximise output for a given input whilst maintaining a specified output (Pollitt etal, 1998: 10).
3.5.8 Accountability
In its broadest sense, accountability is described by Van der Waldt (in Van Niekerk et al 2002: 119) as an obligation to expose, explain, and justify actions. Public accountability demands that the actions of public institutions be publicised to encourage public deb~te and criticism.
Accountability is a key requirement of good governance (UNESCAP, 2002: Online). Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector and civil society organisations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who IS
accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organisation or institution. In general an organisation or an institution IS
accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or 1.ctions.
Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.