Public-sector transformation in South Africa: Getting the basics right

This paper uses post-apartheid development and structural adjustment policies as macro-case studies for investigating the politics of service delivery during the first decade of democracy in South Africa. It provides a sobering outlook on South Africa's development and democratisation potential by analysing emerging modes of governance, specifically looking at (the failure of ) nation building, the autocratic leadership style of the new politico-administrative elite, and the overall ineffectiveness of managerialist public sector reforms. The criticism is directed towards cognitive biases in the political culture, and the danger of overall development failure, resulting from ineffectual management and regulatory politics.