The Role of Ethical Leadership in Promoting Professionalism in South African Local Government

Description

Page: 1515-1519

M.J. Mafunisa¹ and R.E. Nyalungu² (Department of Public and Development Administration, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa¹ and Department of Public Affairs, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa²)

Municipal administrations worldwide are confronted with challenges in relation to the provision of goods to the communities in both rural and urban areas. The Republic of South Africa is no exception. These challenges include shortage of clean water and failing infrastructure. Main causes of these challenges are ethical dilemmas, which are pillaging the resources (including financial ones) to assist in providing those services. These dilemmas include unethical leadership, political interference, abuse of cadre deployment, material irregularities, nepotism and favouritism, political patronage, fruitless expenditure, lack of accountability, procurement and payment transgressions. This manuscript seeks to identify the roles played by municipal leadership, viz., political office bearers and accounting officers in mitigating against these dilemmas. The manuscript utilises the qualitative research approach, which includes a review of (mainly) current literature. It is concluded that local politicians and accounting officers need to set a strong ethical leadership tone characterised by accountability, impartial application of consequence management and compliance with relevant constitutional, legislative and policy provisions that govern municipal supply chain processes.