Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa: The African Peer Review Mechanism (Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development)

✍ Scribed by Isioma Ile (editor), Omololu Fagbadebo (editor)

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 209
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book presents a holistic perspective and analysis of democratic practice, processes, and governance in South Africa. It examines the development in the South African governing system and its response to the challenges of the crisis of governance under the influence of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While doing so, the book's central objective is to examine the progress of the South African government in strengthening democracy and political governance. Each of the contributions follows a similar structure and addresses the following thematic issues: (1) Assessment of the implementation of the core APRM-related programs; (2) Identification of areas of excellence and prognosis for further improvement; (3) Identification of the weak areas of each and how to make the future implementation better, (4) Identification areas to improve democracy and political governance.
A self-assessment strategy initiated by the African Union (AU) in 2002 and adoptedin 2003, the APRM is a voluntary mechanism adopted by countries in the African continent to improve governance in general. As a specialized AU agency, APRM monitors the peer review activities of each African country. It serves as a tool for sharing experiences, reinforcing best practices, identifying deficiencies, and assessing capacity-building needs to foster policies, standards, and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development, and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration.

This book will be useful for and appeal to scholars and researchers in political science, public administration, and the social sciences in general, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of democratic practice and processes, governance, public policy, and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

✦ Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
About This Book
References
Contents
Contributors
Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa
1 Introduction
2 Democracy
3 Governance
4 Democratic Structures and Governance in South Africa
5 The Crisis of Governance in South Africa
6 Toward a Renewed Democratic Governance in South Africa
7 Conclusions
References
A Critique of South Africa´s Quest for Accountable, Efficient and Effective Public Service
1 Introduction
2 Key Legislative Instruments of the South African Public Service: An Overview
3 Conceptualizing the Notions of Accountability, Efficiency and Effectiveness
4 A Synopsis of South African APRM Issues (Related to the Objective of Accountable, Efficient and Effective Public Service)
5 Analysis and Emerging Insights
6 Regulatory Framework for Service Delivery
7 Service Delivery
8 Monitoring Government Performance
9 Corruption in the Public Service and State Capture
10 Capacity Building, Training and Professionalization of the Public Service
11 Accountability
12 Recommendations
13 Conclusion
References
Evaluating the Commitment of South Africa to the Principles of Separation of Powers
1 Introduction
2 Emerging Insights on Constitutional Democracy and Separation of Power
3 Conceptualization of the Principle of Separation of Power and Check and Balance
3.1 Separation of Power
3.2 Check and Balance
4 Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances in Action
4.1 Good Governance
4.2 Accountability
4.3 Legislative Oversights Responsibilities and Transparency
4.4 Veto Power and Players
4.5 Judicial Independence and Separation of Powers
5 Recommendations
6 Conclusion
References
A Rural Perspective on the African Peer Review Mechanism: Views on Socio-Economic Development and Public Service Delivery in R...
1 Introduction
2 Defining Rural Areas and Municipalities
3 Developments in [Rural] Public Service Delivery in South Africa
4 Public Service and the State of Service Delivery in South Africa
5 Governance in Rural Areas
6 A Network of Role Players Is Responsible for Services in Rural Areas
6.1 Civic Organisations
6.2 Traditional Leaders
7 Service Delivery Challenges in Rural Areas
7.1 Small-Scale, Inconsistent, and Ad Hoc Solutions
7.2 Inappropriate Technologies and Municipal Infrastructure Grant Limitations
7.3 Political Overreach
7.4 Weak Institutional Capacity
8 Vertical Imbalances in Resource Sharing
9 Conclusion
References
Democracy, Peace and Stability in South Africa: The Struggle Continues
1 Introduction
2 Conceptual Framework
2.1 Democracy, Peace and Stability
3 Identified Issues from the First-Generation APRM Report with Implications for Democracy, Peace and Stability: Emerging Insig...
3.1 Nation Building: Managing Diversity
3.2 Poverty, Inequality and Unemployment
3.3 The Land Question and Reform
3.4 Racism and Xenophobia
3.5 Crime and Corruption
4 Positioning South Africa in the APRM Framework: Reflecting on the National Programme of Action
5 Synthesis and the Future: Democracy, Peace and Stability
6 Recommendations
7 Conclusion
Bibliography
South Africa´s Political Commitment to the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups
1 Introduction
2 Appraisal of the Previous Report: Emerging Insights (Policy, Principle and Practice)
3 Challenges to the Rights of Vulnerable Groups in South Africa
4 Best Practices and Opportunities
5 Recommendations for Policy Improvement
6 Conclusion
References
Evaluating the Rights of Children and Young People in Africa: The Policies and Practices in South Africa
1 Introduction
2 Policy Review of Children and Young People´s Rights in Africa
2.1 Children´s Rights and Institutional Reforms in Africa
3 Legislative Frameworks on Children and Young people´s Rights in South Africa
3.1 Children´s Rights in Apartheid South Africa
3.2 Post-Apartheid South Africa and Children´s Rights
3.2.1 Overview of Policies, Legislation, and Institutions Dealing with Children´s and Young People´s Rights in SA
3.2.2 Status and Policies of Children and Young People´s Rights in South Africa, 1996
3.2.3 Childcare and Protective Legislation
3.2.4 Social Protection and Legal Identity
3.2.5 Child Justice Statutes and Protection of Children from Exploitative Practices
3.2.6 Children and Youth Development
4 Emerging Legislation, Policies, and Practices in the Previous SA-APRM Report
5 Children and Young People´s Rights and Abolishing of Corporal Punishment
5.1 Undocumented Migrants/Refugees and Children´s Rights
5.2 Insights on Children´s and Young People´s Health, Drugs, Gangsterism
5.3 Social Intervention Policies and the Dilemma of Young People´s Development
6 Conclusion and Recommendations
6.1 Recommendations
References
Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Citizens in South Africa: A Review
1 Introduction
2 The Bill of Rights
3 Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Citizens: Response to Previous APRM Reports
4 Drivers of Human Rights Abuse in South Africa
4.1 Corruption as a Driver of Human Rights Abuse in South Africa
4.2 Inequality, Unemployment and Poverty
4.3 Violence against Women and Children
5 Service Delivery
6 Land Reforms
7 Racism
8 Access to Courts
9 Conclusion
References
The Voice of the Voiceless: The State of Civil and Political Rights in South Africa
1 Introduction
2 The State of Civil and Political Rights in South Africa: Emerging Insights
3 Freedom of Association
4 Role of Civil Society
5 Political Parties
6 Individual Rights
7 Conclusion
References
An Assessment of Government Commitment to the Promotion and Protection of Women´s Rights in South Africa
1 Introduction
2 Women´s Rights in International Human Rights Regime
3 The African Peer Review Mechanism Report on South Africa
4 APRM Report on South Africa: 2021 About the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women
5 Women´s Representation in Government and the Economy
6 Women´s Challenges with Poverty, Hunger and Lack of Dignified Living
7 Gender-Based Violence
7.1 Access to Justice for Victims and Survivors
7.2 Change Norms and Behaviour Through High-Level Prevention Efforts
7.3 Urgently Respond to Victims and Survivors of GBV
7.4 Strengthen Accountability and Structures
7.5 Economic Opportunities for Addressing Women´s Economic Vulnerability
8 Areas that Require Further Improvement
9 Conclusion
References
Deepening Leadership Accountability in South Africa
1 Introduction
2 Leadership Accountability
3 Accountability Mechanisms in South Africa
4 Cadre Deployment as Anathema to Leadership Accountability in South Africa
5 Deepening Leadership Accountability in South Africa
6 Conclusion
References
Correction to: Peace and Stability in South Africa: The Struggle Continues
Correction to: Chapter 5 in: I. Ile, O. Fagbadebo (eds.), Democracy and Political Governance in South Africa, Advances in Afri...