Abstract
The main aim of the research was to conceptually, contextually and empirically investigate the nature and scope of the challenges of good ethical governance in South Africa with reference to the Newcastle Local Municipality, to determine how to improve the effectiveness of ethical governance. The study provided an integrated focus on the concepts, context, theories, functions, activities and outcomes of ethical governance to ensure sustained compliance with the spirit of the statutory, regulatory and policy frameworks governing unethical behaviour and corruption in South Africa.
A convergent mixed methods research design was applied by triangulating unobtrusive research methods with a quantitative and qualitative empirical investigation. The triangulation of data-collection methods included primary sources (interviews and a survey questionnaire) and secondary sources (literature and documentary sources).
The study found that there are ever-increasing challenges related to unethical behaviour and practices in local government in South Africa. This situation can be attributed inter alia to a lack of proper procedures, a lack of institutional objectives, complicated ethical governance processes, a lack of enforcing the local government codes of conduct, as well as a lack of a proper implementation strategy to ensure ethical governance. The study proposed a conceptual framework to serve as a self-evaluation framework and yardstick to enhance ethical governance in the Newcastle Local Municipality.
Keywords: Accountability; code of conduct, ethics; ethical governance, good governance; local government; Newcastle Local Municipality, professionalism.