THE CONCEPT OF GOVERNANCE
2.4 CORE INDICATORS OF GOVERNANCE
changes its mind is not likely to be effective in carrying out its functions. The more determined the leaders of a government in executing their programmes the more successful the government will be.
• Level of good judgement: a government, which can quickly and correctly assesses issues and events, and correctly identify their implications, is likely to be effective.
• The morale of government officials: it critically affects governmental performance. Such morale is usually adversely affected by very poor conditions of service, nepotism, bribery and corruption and inter-ethnic antagonisms. These immoral behaviours tend to immobilise governmental machinery and consequently make the government ineffective.
• Governmental effectiveness: this is affected by the government's capacity to sell its programmes to the population.
A good public relations posture is useful to a government.
Through it the people can understand the intentions of government, and the ways in which they can contribute to and benefit from governmental activities. At least they will not inadvertently obstruct government business.
• The extent to which the state engages in minimising the incidence, containing the spread of and mitigating the impact of civil strife and communal violence and how its institutes mechanisms for promoting peace, political stability and security. Among the preventive measures are equitable access to political power and economic opportunities to all ("itlz1cns;
fair and equitable treatment to all regions and population groups in matters of public concern and the degree of decentralisation of authority and devolution of power in the system;
• Establishing and strengthening the legal and institutional foundations of the rule of law and constitutionalism. The extent to which the key governance institutions of the judiciary, legislative and executive are functioning effectively
and the exercise of institutional checks and balances;
• Effectiveness, equity and responsiveness of public agencies to the needs of all citizens. This indicator assesses the extent to which the public management system is perceived to be effective, accountable, transparent and have integrity;
• Popular participation in the political, economic and social processes of society. This includes freedom of association and expression; the existence of conduciveness and an enabling environment for citizens' initiatives and activities, 8nc.l to encourage the development of viable civil society organisations;
• The availability and free flow of information to encourage informed public discussions on national issues and policies.
This will enable accountability to be practiced, laws to be fairly
2.4.1
and correctly applied and watchdog institutions to function freely (ECA, 1999: 2).
Meaning of democracy for the purpose of governance
The basic ideology underlying democracy is the creation of conditions whereby and according to which the individual will be able to achieve the greatest degree of individual well-being, provided that he/ she abides by the law, including the common law. According to Botes et al (1996: 11-25) there is no consensus about what is understood by the basic principles of democracy. However, the following democratic principles can be used for the purpose of governance:
2.4.1.1 Guarantee of basic rights and freedoms of the individual People need certain basic rights and freedoms, such as the freedom of choice, freedom of movement, freedom of speech and associa~ion.
To guarantee the rights or freedoms of each individual, each citizen must accept the accompanying obligation to recognize and acknowledge the rights and freedoms of others.
The public has the right to demand that affairs of the state and governance take place publicly. Botes et al (1996: 13) assert that an individual must have the right to criticise the government and administration without fear of victimisation or arrest, and to insist that his/her needs, desires and demands be met.
2.4.1.2 The rule of law principle
Rule of law means equality before the law and freedom from arbitrary government (Fox & Meyer, 1996: 115).
The rule of law implies that the law is supreme In authority and, translated into practical terms, this means that people in a
democratic state are not subjected to being governed by the arbitrary judgment and personal whims of public officials (Botes, 1995: 22).
There are laws and rules (statutory and common law), which act as criteria against which misdemeanours and offences can be judged and a verdict sought in accordance with legal requirements.
When there are no legislative provisions the courts will assume that certain additional principles have to be observed. But there are limits to the role, which the law can and should play in presenting the limits of administrative action.
2.4.1.3 Government by the people, for the people
A prominent characteristic of a democracy is the principle of free general elections without coercion. Periodically, registered voters have the opportunity to indicate their preference for a government, legislative body or head of state, by means of the ballot box. The government or cabinet is authorised to appoint public officials to implement the aims, objectives and policy directives of the party in power after an election.
Public officials must therefore understand and realise that they are servants of the public and that they are not the rulers of the public.
They are the servants of society and should thus serve society.
Democracy is a system of government in which ultimate political power rests with the public at large (Fox & Meyer, 1996: 35).
2.4.1.4 The distribution of government power
According to Botes et al (1996: 24), it is believed that the traditional tripartite division of state authority into legislative, executive and judicial functions endorses the generally accepted principles of
democracy by preventing all despotic power from being veste~ 1.:1 a single body or set of rules.
Government institutions and governmental functions must, for the purpose of governance, be separated. Even though functions should actually be divided or even separated, the institutions responsibk for the execution of the functions need not be physically or geographically separated. Sufficient control measures should be In place to prevent the abuse of power.
2.4.1.5 Order and welfare functions of the state
According to Gildenhuys (1997:5) the main objective or goal of the economic welfare of the state is the creation, by government, of circumstances where individuals are free and left to develop their personal economic welfare according to their own physical and mental financial abilities.
Some scholars regard the state as a means of combining forces and obtaining instruments to enhance welfare and create order (Botes et al, 1996: 25). Institutions, such as government departments, divisions, sections and various other public entities are established to perform those functions necessary for the population's continued existence.
In view of welfare, the government is expected to act as an entrepreneur, a promoter and a regulator with regard to new ilkas and methods for serving society better (Du Toit & Van der Waldt,
1999:33).