Abstract
The argument and debates about a developmental state has been a subject of intense
discussion in academia and in government policy circles. Since the 52nd African
National Conference in Polokwane (2007), the debates concerning whether South
Africa is a developmental state have dominated the development and public policy
literature. Scholars across the country have argued that the country is not yet a
developmental state while others argue that it is. None of them, however, have
examined whether the current public services delivery in the country, coupled with the
embedded autonomy and meritocracy, is able to lead to a developmental state.
Furthermore, the literature in the discipline of service delivery has not investigated
whether the current status of ‘embedded autonomy’ in the South African public sector
is able to lead the country to achieve its developmental state ambitions.
This dissertation found that embedded autonomy is not only essential, but also a
much-needed solution to solve government’s institutional weaknesses. The South
African government has based its public service transformation programmes on a
user-centred service delivery approach through the White Paper on Transformation of
Public Service Delivery in 1997. Using a qualitative research method with explanatory
and exploratory approaches, the dissertation found that South Africa is not yet a
developmental state. The analysis argues that the development of a meritocratic and
independent public service coupled with a strong embedded autonomy would help
South Africa achieve its ambitions of a developmental state.
The dissertation recommends that the government should adopt a meritocratic civil
service to allow for more efficient and effective delivery of services. There is also need
for good governance that promotes accountability and transparency in order to allow
meritocracy in all governmental sectors to put people at the centre of development.
For this the separation of the policymaking process of politicians, and policy
implementation role of administrators should be encouraged. This will lead to a strong...
M.A.