SUNScholar - Browsing by Author "Pillay, Pregala"

Browsing by Author "Pillay, Pregala"

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Corruption : consequences for Socio-economic Well-being in South Africa
(CSSALL Publishers, 2019) Mantzaris, Evangelos; Pillay, Pregala
This paper begins with the hypothesis that high levels of corruption can self-perpetuate on occasions, as the phenomenon of corruption is perpetrated through all societal levels and sectors. The loss of ethical standards, lack of honest and cohesive leadership, organisational gaps and weaknesses and individual or group greed, coupled with political, or organisational opportunities, and immunity of offenders, are some of the fundamental roots leading to corruption. High levels of corruption have serious negative repercussions for the present and future of any country especially when it occurs in the public sector. Corruption deters investment in the country, as private investment can be discouraged. The consequences are particularly dire in the case of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), where corruption can amount to an additional cost. It reduces GDP growth as it harms international trade; negatively affects the inflation and exchange rates; affects prices of either imports or exports, thus influencing trade volumes and trade patterns; influences and distorts consumption patterns; increases the wealth distribution disparity and affects the country’s consumption patterns; leads to resource misallocations; harms a county’s international reputation; reduces efficiency, innovation and competition throughout the economy; causes waste of capacity and money, and biases the allocations capital and talent. Finally, it increases inequality as it is instrumental in lowering employment, deters fixed investment as well as becoming a serious hurdle in the establishment of new businesses. The focus of this contribution is on public sector corruption.
Corruption and its repercussions on employment, poverty and inequality : Rwanda and South Africa compared
(Lifescience Global, 2019) Khan, Firoz; Pillay, Pregala; Theletsane, K. I.
Effective statecraft is founded on governance, planning and policy execution foundations that are historically derived and conditioned. In contemporary times, effective statecraft supposedly centres on ‘sustainable’ development paradigms and frameworks. This paper examines the connection between state construction and contemporary statecraft - refracted through anti-corruption policy and implementation - and their combined repercussions on employment, poverty and inequality. These include the challenges encountered by the proliferation of corruption, which many posit to be the ‘key enemy’ of good governance and, by extension, ‘sustainable’ development. Using Rwanda and South Africa as case studies, it is demonstrated that fighting corruption cannot be disconnected from power, political economy, the dynamics of public policy formulation, and the mechanics of policy implementation. This paper posits an association between specific types of patrimonialism, economic performance and service delivery with attendant consequences for employment generation, poverty eradication and reducing inequality.
Corruption and the erosion of citizen trust in Brazil and South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration (ACPA), 2017) Mantzaris, Evangelos A., 1953-; Pillay, Pregala
The exploration of public trust towards a democratic government has taken different forms throughout history because it is a multi-dimensional and complicated process determined by actions, inactions, political, social and economic processes and societal power relationships. It is widely accepted that good governance, in turn, is a crucial element in the process of building citizens’ trust in government. This implies that unethical, corrupt actions negatively affect citizens’ trust, which is one of the reasons the relationship between social trust and governance has been a focal point of the academic and policy-making communities. The present case studies are based on primary and secondary qualitative research and deal with concerns such as those in South Africa and Brazil and seek to explore the causal relationship between good governance and citizen trust and the effect of corrupt actions. Citizens’ trust takes different forms that fluctuate from the ‘general’ to the ‘particular/specific’ and such realities have different effects on governance as well as the shaping of public policy, attitudes and political imperatives. In both of the aforementioned countries issues of political, economic and social transformation and development are societal imperatives, empirical studies on such relations of trust and good governance can pave the way forward in re-evaluating the differences, similarities and forms of the struggle against corruption.
Corruption in the health sector in South Africa and India.
(African Consortium of Public Administration (ACPA), 2017) Pillay, Pregala; Mantzaris, A.
The article is an integral part of a comprehensive comparative empirical study on corruption in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). The article begins with the context and parameters of the research identifying a number of core concepts associated with the phenomenon. The anti-corruption legislation in the two aforementioned countries is presented next with South Africa seemingly introducing a diverse range of anti-corruption laws, rules and regulations that tackle almost all aspects of the phenomenon in comparison to India. A number of the most significant laws and instruments relevant in the fight against corruption in the healthcare sector is briefly analysed. The methodology followed in the study combined diverse empirical approaches, such as primary documentary research released by the South African and Indian Treasuries and the Auditor-General authorities, unstructured interviews with researchers, experts and government officials in both countries as well as content analysis of the print media. The data analysis provided the realities of fraud, corruption and collusion, its types and reasons for perpetration in a comparative perspective. The key differences between the two as revealed by the findings is that while in India the rampant corruption is more evident in the private sector, the opposite is true for South Africa. A number of explanations based on the empirical findings are advanced.
Exploring how women’s social capital in rural areas can inform the development of policy as a source of agency for empowerment
(African Consortium of Public Administration (ACPA), 2019) Teleki, M.; Pillay, Pregala
This article argues that social capital for purposes of women’s empowerment is important for developing policies that are aimed to uplift women and communities in rural areas. It is widely known that South Africa has entrenched notions of gender equality and women’s empowerment in constitutional law. The authors will illustrate the disjuncture between law and policy pertaining to the empowerment of women in rural areas of South Africa. This disjuncture could have a negative impact on the prospects of development for women who reside in rural areas of South Africa. The argument advanced is that the strengthening of policy for women’s empowerment in rural South Africa should be in tandem with the Constitution. In doing so, framing policy on women’s empowerment in South Africa should be strengthened with reference to the existing social capital held by women in rural areas. In other words, the enablement that comes with shared values and norms within women’s networks should inform policy as an agency for the empowerment of women in rural South Africa. This article is written at a time when South Africa goes through law reform on land and property rights, which have an effect on women who reside in rural areas. It will therefore speak to the type of policy that needs to be developed, referencing social capital in order to give effect to women’s empowerment in rural areas.
Independence of anti‑corruption agencies : a comparative study of South Africa and India
(African Consortium of Public Administration (ACPA), 2017) Chetty, J.; Pillay, Pregala
The article attempts to dissect the independence of anti-corruption agencies and the reasons for their operational successes and challenges. This brief examination of legislative and regulatory frameworks is important as a reflection of their impartiality and effectiveness. The case studies upon which the research is based, are the Special Investigatings Unit (SIU) in South Africa, and the Civil Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India. In the process, their key functions, operations, financial independence and priorities are examined. The research undertaken is based on the qualitative, interpretative frame of reference that is based on the thorough study and analysis of primary and secondary documents and person to person interviews with nationally and internationally–based researchers and experts on the issues under investigation. The analysis relies on a comparative examination of the agencies in terms of a number of issues of national and international importance as related to the fight against corruption. The comparison indicates that different levels of independence exist, and that a number of issues and problems present serious challenges in a successful fight against corruption.
Monitoring, evaluation and accountability against corruption : a South African case study
(Lifescience Global, 2019) Mantzaris, E. A.; Pillay, Pregala
The article is an empirical effort to research and analyse the dialectical relationship between public sector monitoring and evaluation relations, structures and processes with corruption and accountability. The case study is the Gauteng Department of Health that has been the subject of this research for the last two years as a part of a wider health-related project. Following a brief exposition of the concept of monitoring and evaluation that has been covered extensively in international and national literature, its relationship with accountability is explored. The existing legislative national and provincial legislature as well as the existing state rules and regulations are presented before the description of the project’s research methods and design. This is a research project utilising a qualitative–based research design and framework consisting of thorough content analysis of primary and secondary sources including government official documents, newspaper articles and face-to-face interviews with a wide range of carefully selected public administrators, political figures and representatives of the public sector. The paper presents an analysis of corruption trends within the department as identified in the latest Auditor General’s report, a corruption–ridden case and the wide-ranging responses of the interviewees. The latest evidence–based Corruption Index follows.
Public trust and good governance : a comparative study of Brazil and South Africa
(African Consortium of Public Administration (ACPA), 2017) Pillay, Pregala
The exploration of public trust towards a democratic government has taken different forms throughout history because it is a multi-dimensional and complicated process determined by actions, inactions, political, social and economic processes and societal power relationships. It is widely accepted that good governance, in turn, is a crucial element in the process of building citizens’ trust in government. This implies that unethical, corrupt actions negatively affect citizens’ trust, which is one of the reasons the relationship between social trust and governance has been a focal point of the academic and policy-making communities. The present case studies are based on primary and secondary qualitative research and deal with concerns such as those in South Africa and Brazil. They seek to explore the causal relationship between good governance and citizens’ trust and the effect of corrupt actions. Citizens’ trust takes different forms that fluctuate from the ‘general’ to the ‘particular/specific’ and such realities have different effects on governance as well as the shaping of public policy, attitudes and political imperatives. In both of the aforementioned countries, issues of political, economic and social transformation and development are societal imperatives. Empirical studies on such relations of trust and good governance can pave the way forward in re-evaluating the differences, similarities and forms of the struggle against corruption.
Towards effective service delivery via customer relationship management
(CSSALL Publishers, 2007) Subban, Mogie; Pillay, Pregala; Bhowan, Kanti; Raga, Kishore
The White Paper on Transformation of the Public Service (Batho Pele) served as the cornerstone of introducing the Principles of Batho Pele to further and enhance the agenda for service delivery. One of the critical principles of Batho Pele is that of its customer focus. This principle is premised on a value and relationship management perspective. Today much emphasis is placed on customer satisfaction, and to regularly interface with the customers whom we are called to serve in the public domain. This paper examines the notion of customer relationship management and its role in service delivery, focusing on a few trends and a model thus creating an enabling environment for effective and efficient service delivery. The emphasis is not only on communication, but also on organisational and process approaches to ensure goal-oriented actions.

Browsing by Author "Pillay, Pregala"

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