Abstract
This paper examines whether cadre deployment which is an ANC policy has an effect on governance/service delivery in South Africa. The former Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, painted a bleak picture about the state of local government. The minister stated that 87 municipalities – about a third of South Africa's total of 257 – remain dysfunctional or distressed. Underpinning this dysfunctionality was mismanagement due to political instability or interference, corruption, and incompetence, often resulting in poor service delivery, thus prolonging the periods of underdevelopment and poor access to basic services. This paper argues that cadre deployment in part contributes to the dysfunctionality of public institutions which are mandated to deliver services to the people, thus the domino effect has been riots, protests, and wasteful expenditure, especially at a local government level. This results in participatory exclusion when it comes to collective development. To answer the guiding questions of this paper, a qualitative research approach was adopted where the review of the literature was undertaken to gather the data needed. Findings revealed that the quest for effective governance and consistent service delivery in South Africa's public sector is dependent on the availability of competent staff that possesses the required skills. It was revealed that cadre deployment promotes a culture of impunity and the lack of accountability, thus undermining the functioning of the public, thus contributing to a breakdown of governance and service delivery and this will have widespread implications for inclusive development and poverty eradication in the country.