Soma Pillay

Corruption – the challenge to good governance: a South African perspective

The effect of corruption in South Africa has seriously constrained development of the national economy and has significantly inhibited good governance in the country. South Africas complex political design is a contributing factor to the rise of corruption, which has adversely affected stability and trust and which has damaged the ethos of democratic values and principles. Although the South African government has been instrumental in systems to fight the evils of corruption, practical problems have increasingly emerged over the years. The most notable problems are: insufficient coordination of anti‐corruption work within the South African public service and among the various sectors of society; poor information about corruption and the impact of anti‐corruption measures and agencies; and the impact of corruption on good governance. This paper is a part of a broader study undertaken on corruption. It addresses issues related to corruption and good governance in the South African (National) Public Service. To articulate and analyse the challenges confronting the country, issues regarding coordination of anti‐corruption agencies will be explored.

Linking cultural dimensions with the nature of corruption: an institutional theory perspective

This article analyses the interaction between cultural dimensions and the nature of corruption as understanding governance issues from a cross-national perspective is becoming increasingly important. Drawing on institutional theory and recent conceptions of the nature of corruption, the study advances formal propositions for a framework that links dimensions of national culture with the pervasiveness and arbitrariness of corruption in the institutions of a nation. We argue that national culture (a macro-level variable) can mediate discretion and accountability (both micro-level variables) — thereby engendering either arbitrariness or pervasiveness in corruption. In advancing these propositions, it is acknowledged that national culture is an important macro-variable that influences corruption. This is important to scholarship in cross-cultural management because cross-national differences are best understood by considering both national differences and social institutions. Lien entre la dimension culturelle et la nature de la corruption : un point de vue de la théorie institutionnelle Soma Pillay & Nirmala Dorasamy Cet article analyse l’interaction entre les dimensions culturelles et la nature de la corruption car la compréhension de la question de la gouvernance d’un point de vue transnational est en train d’acquérir de plus en plus d’importance. En s’appuyant sur la théorie institutionnelle et sur les conceptions récentes de la nature de la corruption, l’étude avance des propositions formelles afin d’édifier un cadre qui lie les dimensions de la culture nationale à l’omniprésence et l’arbitraire de la corruption dans les institutions d’une nation. Nous arguons que la culture nationale (une variable de niveau macro) peut influer sur la discrétion et la responsabilisation (deux variables de niveau micro) — ce qui engendre, alors, ou l’arbitraire ou l’omniprésence de la corruption. En avançant ces propositions, il est reconnu que la culture nationale est une macro-variable qui influence la corruption. Ceci est important pour la recherche académique en gestion interculturelle parce que les différences interculturelles sont mieux comprises lorsque l’on considère à la fois les différences nationales et les institutions sociales.

An Institutional Theory Perspective on Corruption: The Case of a Developing Democracy

The purpose of this paper is to use quantitative data to describe corruption in the SANPS, and use Luos ([Luo, Y., 2005]) institutional theory to gain insights into how corruption develops and remains entrenched despite the introduction of anti‐corruption legislation. A total of 1,500 questionnaires were distributed to public servants in nine provinces, but predominantly in Kwa Zulu Natal and Gauteng. There were 702 returned giving a response rate of 47%. We conclude that the findings discussed in this paper lend support for Luos theoretical model being able to provide insight into the development of corruption, its consequences and possible remedies.

Predictors of Whistle-Blowing intentions: an analysis of multi-level variables

The purpose of this study was to examine the variables impacting on whistle-blowing intentions in the public services of two developing countries, South Africa and Mauritius. In particular, this study considers the barriers to whistle-blowing and the effect of demographic and cultural values on the perceptions of these barriers. The study finds major differences between South Africa and Mauritius with minor differences in regard to gender and education.

Institutional isomorphism and whistle-blowing intentions in public sector institutions

ABSTRACT Over the years the new institutionalism in public sector analysis has contributed significantly to our understanding of the dynamics of public sector institutions. While it has moved research away from behavioural explanations to recognizing political and cultural contexts, the focus on public sector institutions has been minimal. This research examines, by self-report questionnaire from employees in two government organizations, how institutional mechanisms shape whistle-blowing intentions within the context of a developing country. Despite the country context, findings from this study are encouraging in that participants’ intentions to blow the whistle were found, generally, to be strong.

Governance in Developing Countries: Sri Lanka and South Africa Compared

In this article, we investigate the main features of the governance model in two developing democracies, Sri Lanka and South Africa. We believe that these two countries are interesting test cases for a comparative study. Both countries are former British colonies and have inherited a similar administrative system heavily influenced by the British colonial model and have experienced an ethnic conflict to different extents in the past. This comparison allows us to examine the determining factors for and against the level of effectiveness of governance in both countries. The findings suggest that the socio-political system within which they operate is dynamic and is an important influence for integrated governance. The study concludes that the outcomes of governance in both countries are better explained by taking into account the features described in an integrated governance model. This provides a better understanding of the dynamics of governance in developing countries.

Advocating Service Learning for Developing Citizenship in University Students in South Africa

An effective and efficient public sector is largely dependent on employees who accept the responsibility for providing high-quality public services. It can be argued that public management students, as future employees in the public sector, need to be educated for responsible citizenship. Higher education institutions in South Africa are expected to promote social and economic development, and service learning can serve as a catalyst for developing responsible citizenship among public management students. This article investigates how service learning, as an experiential form of learning which has its roots in community service, meets community needs, enhances teaching and learning and contributes towards responsible citizenship. The extent to which service learning in public management as a discipline has been adopted by universities of technology in South Africa is also explored. It is argued that while public management students are expected to engage in experiential learning in the public sector, community-based learning should be included as a compulsory component of experiential learning. The authors suggest that service learning can make a significant contribution to socially responsible citizenship, an important value underpinning any public servant.

Exploring Whistle-Blowing Intentions in South Africa

The term “whistle-blowing” was adopted in the 1970s to differentiate between allegations made by someone inside the company as against allegations of a misdeed made by someone outside the company (Near & Miceli, 1985). Through the years ever since, a standard definition of whistle- blowing has been adopted by a range of authors (Dworkin & Near, 1997; Near & Miceli 1985; 1996; Rocha and Kleiner, 2005). Generally whistle-blowing is considered as “the confession by organisation members (ex- or current) of immoral, illegal and illegitimate practices under the control of their employers to persons and organisations that may be able to effect action” (Near & Miceli, 1985: 4). There must at least be four elements involved in the process of whistle-blowing: (1) the whistle-blower; (2) the complaint or the wrongdoing that is being revealed; (3) the organization/individual or a collection of people working in the organization who is/are committing the wrongdoing; and (4) the party who is made aware of the wrongdoing by the whistle-blower. With specific focus on whistle-blowing intent, this chapter primarily examine the first element of this process.