This thesis does not contain text, graphics or tables copied and pasted from the Internet unless expressly acknowledged and the source is indicated in the thesis and in the reference sections. This study aimed to examine the challenges and successes of implementation in the delivery of social services through state-owned enterprises, as a mechanism for delivering services in South Africa. The delivery of social services through state-owned enterprises has fundamentally improved compared to before the inception of SASSA.
However, it further shows that there are still several challenges in delivering social services that hinder further progress. The challenge of incapacity in managing social benefits was seen as one of the challenges.
- Research problem & Objectives: Key questions
- Research problem: Broader issues
- Research methodology and methods
- Case study
- Sampling
- Data collection method
- Data analysis method
- Limitations of the study
- Structure of dissertation
The broad purpose of the study is related to examining the use of state-owned enterprises (SOE) in the delivery of social services. The study found that reforms of state-owned enterprises had a significant effect on the reduction of the welfare system. The Constitutional Court therefore decided on an amendment to the Danish Assistance Act, which includes changes in the administration of social grants. The court ruled that, apart from the child allowance, only funeral insurances had to be deducted from other allowances for the elderly. , which only constitutes 10% of the grant's total value (Maake, 2016:1).
20 SASSA officials were selected because they are social grant administrators and the research aims to explore their experiences in delivering social grants. This chapter is an analysis of the legislative framework governing State Owned Enterprises (eg SASSA) in South Africa and the implementation of the Social Assistance Act.
Conceptual framework
- Public Policy Theory
- Policy Implementation
- Approaches to Implementation
- Processes of Implementation
- Factors for Successful Policy Implementation
- Policy Implementation Challenges
- New Public Management
- State Owned Enterprises
- Conclusion
Although there is no consensus on the number of stages in the policy process, the general idea of the stages includes agenda setting, issue identification, policy design, decision making and implementation (Colebatch, 2002:50). 25 therefore not the end of the policy process as there is an implementation stage that is required so that the results of the desired objectives can be realized. In addition, the enforcement mix is met to perform in the lines of the policy.
Cloete and de Coning outline that technology can hinder the development process in the sense that the cost of the technological equipment can hinder development. This means that commitment is required not only at the implementer level, but all other related subunits that are part of the policy. Engagement focuses on the engagement of bureaucrats at the street level and also at all levels in the political phases that it undergoes.
Organizational capacity has the ability to successfully enable or hinder policy implementation. Basically, the implementation process depends on the environmental conditions of the implementing agency and the causal theory. It is largely based on the idea that government should lead rather than oppose, decentralize authority and especially focus on customer needs should be the priority.
The continued failure of the implementation process resulted in scholars conducting research on implementation in search of the problems that lead to policy failure. 37 means that the government has adopted one of the following principles of new public management (Osborne and Gaebler). The focus of the research is based on a non-commercial state-owned company, a government agency based on the idea that they improve services to the people.
SOEs are set to carry out policy implementation, regulation, consultancy and policy development and many more (McCarthaigh, 2007:5); however, the focus will be on policy implementation regarding the focus of the study. New public management realized that policy implementation through the bureaucratic government was restrictive and inflexible, which was the result of the constant failures of policy implementation.
Legislative framework
- Constitution of the Republic
- Companies Act
- Public Finance Management Act
- Social Security in South Africa
- Types of grants
- Social Assistance Act
- Aged persons Act
- South African Social Security Agency
- Constitution of the Republic
- South African Social Security Agency Act
- Conclusion
The guardian must provide a court order indicating the guardian's status and the child must remain in the care of the custodial parent (SASSA, 2014:3). SASSA is the main disbursing agency and is responsible for administering the social security grants which will be detailed below. Social assistance grants are administered through an SOE, the South African Social Security Agency, which is overseen by the Department of Social Development.
The purpose of SASSA is to ensure the administration and payment of social assistance and the provision of related services; and to provide for matters connected therewith. To ensure compliance with the provisions, it is enshrined in the Constitution and enforced through the financial penalties provided for in subsection 2(a) of the SASSA Act. The Act is a provision establishing the South African Social Security Agency as a 3A public body under the PFMA that is responsible for the administration of grants.
The purpose of SASSA is to provide for the administration of social assistance and the payment of social grants, to provide social assistance and to determine the qualification requirements in relation thereto; ensure that minimum norms and standards are defined for the provision of social assistance and provide for the establishment of an inspectorate for social assistance. Act, ultimately, as the sole agent to ensure the efficient and effective management, administration and payment of social assistance. According to SASSA Act No. a) "Administer social assistance in the sense of Chapter 3 of the Social Assistance Act No. 9 of 2004 and perform any function delegated to it under this law;
The agreement must thus include the provision of: a) "Successful, efficient and economical use of funds intended for payment to beneficiaries of social security. The purpose of the agency is to provide social assistance to persons who meet the conditions. The SASSA Act therefore works in conjunction with the Social Assistance Act and the South African Constitution, which prioritizes the administration of social assistance.
Findings and Analysis
- Conceptualisation of SOE’s
- Service Delivery of Social Grants
- Street Level Bureaucrats
- Challenges to Service Delivery of Social Grants
- Success Factors in service Delivery of Social Grants
- Conclusion
The understanding of the policy objectives and employee cooperation for implementation are clear and imperative. However, there are some tangible and intangible resources that hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of daily service delivery. According to Cloete and de Coning, the availability of capacity facilitates the implementation of the policy to be successful or it can hinder its implementation.
Cloete and de Coning (2011:7) point out that it is important that program beneficiaries prioritize and join forces with interest groups to support the implementation process. This may be a result of the challenges grantees have experienced in disbursing social grants using the biometric payment system. Overall low levels of technological literacy are cited as one of the challenges resulting in reluctance to adopt.
The following responses relate to beneficiaries' experience of the new biometric payment system and the use of the biometric payment system as a mechanism to facilitate service delivery. Since SASSA was established, their turnaround strategy has increased over time and now it is about 24 hours in terms of the application process” (R-5). Also, the responses of SASSA officials regarding the implementation of the new biometric payment system and their experiences regarding the biometric payment system were also recorded.
The positive results of public management can be attributed to the benefits of using electronic technology, because it better fulfills the government's management functions (Cloete and de Coning. 64 The concept of new public management implies that the customer's needs should be given high priority. (Osborne and Gaebler, 1992: 230. ) It also reported on the factors affecting the agency SASSA's success in the delivery of grants.
They understand the agency's mandate and the legislation they must adhere to. Some beneficiaries of social grants have received illegal deductions, thus receiving less than the estimated amounts of their social grants.
The objectives of the study include understanding the delivery of services using state-owned enterprises, how SASSA delivers social services and to find out the issues that state-owned enterprises face in the delivery of social services, as well as the successes in the delivery of social services as state-owned enterprises. The conceptual framework defined public policy as "the output or product of government process and activity, usually expressed in legislative ordinances or 12 laws, executive decrees or orders, executive and official statements or speeches, government budgets, judicial decisions and sometimes political manifestos" (Ikelegbe, 2006:4). Sabatier and Mazmanian mention that the objectives of the policy must be clear and consistent for successful policy implementation.
In addition, street-level bureaucrats are also discouraged by the agency's limited capacity. According to the new concept of public management, the government should steer and not paddle; therefore, the provision of sufficient capacities required by the agency will enable the implementation of a new concept of public management. The electronic biometric payment system is a result of current deductions and fraudulent activities at SASSA.
It is understood that SASSA has limited control over funding, which could be a result of social grant applicants being turned away due to staff shortages. However, SASSA cannot adopt electronic technology because majority control of the budget lies with the government. However, the functions of SOEs are often more effective and successful when there is accessibility to the necessary resources and availability of intangible and tangible resources for implementation to take place.
Speech by the Minister at the launch of the Advisory Committee on the Future of Grants in South Africa. An assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the South African Social Security Agency in the Northern and Western Cape provinces. Shabalala, S.R., The case for the need for a common understanding and definition of state-owned enterprises.
What are the agency operational barriers experienced during the grant administration process as a whole? How would you describe grant recipients' experiences with the biometric payment system? Would you say that the attitude on the front line at SASSA is quite a problem?
11. What would be your comparison of the level of services of the Department of Social Development and SASSA at present, if the organization had existed by then. What are the challenges mentioned by the beneficiaries of the biometric payment system grants? What do you think would be the cause of the challenges in the administration system.
