Public Administration and Governance: Institutions, Devolution and Accountability
Public Administration and Governance covers the constitutional machinery of the state, the public service, financial accountability and the reform vocabulary a planning officer is expected to use precisely.
Institutions and rules
- Executive presidency under the 1978 Constitution; the Prime Minister and Cabinet are drawn from Parliament and answer to it.
- The 13th Amendment (1987) created Provincial Councils with three lists: Provincial Council, Reserved and Concurrent.
- The 21st Amendment (2022) restored the Constitutional Council and independent commissions, including Elections, Public Service, National Human Rights, Police, Audit, Bribery and Procurement.
- The Public Service Commission handles appointments, promotions, transfers and disciplinary control within the constitutional framework.
- Financial accountability: Appropriation Act, Financial Regulations, the Auditor General's report, then COPA for appropriation accounts and COPE for economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
- The Right to Information Act No. 12 of 2016 is the legal basis for citizen requests.
Worked example
A committee finds a department bought vehicles at inflated prices. Reasoning: COPE examines economy, efficiency and effectiveness, so it is the proper forum; COPA reviews appropriation accounts and audit queries. The Auditor General's report refers the matter, and disciplinary action follows the Establishments Code.
Traps that cost marks
- Confusing COPA with COPE.
- Treating the Public Service Commission and the Constitutional Council as the same body.
- Forgetting that devolution rests on three lists, not two.
- Answering a discipline question with Financial Regulations instead of the Establishments Code.