That the issue of public accountability is ranking high on the South African political agenda was clearly reflected by the participants of the Annual Good Governance Conference in October 2011 in Pretoria. Among others, the Ministers of Home Affairs and Public Service and Administration, the Premier of the Western Cape and the Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development as well as the Minister for Economic and Global Issues at the German Embassy had followed an invite by Thuli Madonsela, the South African Ombudsman or ‘Public Prosecutor’. Madonsela and representatives from various other oversight institutions met to decide on the benchmarks to ensure government accountability to the public. The question “What is public Accountability?” was at the heart of the conference, which saw some 120 guests from government, the legal profession, academia and civil society. The conference on good governance was supported by the Public Service Reform Programme from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Government.
In her key-note address the Minister of Home Affairs emphasised that accountability, transparency, consistency and good leadership are crucial elements for good governance, which gain their ultimate value when they are used to improve the livelihoods of all South Africans. Therefore government should always ask itself how executive action assists in fulfilling its mandate and whether it contributes to better services and a better life for the citizens.
With her key-note address the Minister of Home Affairs set the tone for the deliberations of the two days conference. During the discourse it became clear that “public accountability” is indeed a very complex concept. It narrows down to a government taking responsibility for its actions and being transparent in the execution of its mandate. However, terminology provides a more traditional definition of financial accountability and a more modern meaning of sound systems of planning, monitoring and evaluation. Most importantly, public accountability also has a strong ethical dimension. No matter how good a system might be, at the end of the day it is human beings, who fill the different mechanisms with life.
The Public Protector emphasised that officials have to be aware that public power is borrowed. When this power is abused the people cannot benefit. It needs to be acknowledge that an open, transparent and accountable government is an imperative precondition for community-oriented public service delivery.
The conference also showed that different countries may take distinct approaches to ensure accountability. Germany for example has a long tradition of public accountability. The first public institution which can be regarded as a predecessor to Germany’s Supreme Audit Institution dates back as far as 1714. Almost three hundred years ago, this office was established as an independent organ which controls the state budget and reports on its findings. To date, the Supreme Audit Institution remains the most important and powerful control body ensuring accountability.
The conference concluded with the adoption of a good governance resolution that forms the framework of co-operation between the different South African oversight bodies. All of them are based on the new South African constitution and serve to upholding the rule of law and democracy in the country. The resolution sees the signatories joining forces and deepening their co-operation in the pursuit of good governance.
For GIZ Dr Angela Paul underlined that South Africa once again takes the lead in the region with this conference as the member states of the African Union and of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development have committed themselves to promoting good governance. This commitment comes in the spirit that good governance is a core condition not only for social peace within a country but also for sustainable development.
