Write an Essay on Intergovernmental relations as form of Interaction
between various levels / spheres of Government . – (25marks)
Intergovernmental Relations is the way in which different spheres of government hierarchy relate
to one another, it is a creative mechanism to maintain cooperative relationships and coordination
between vertical and horizontal sites.
Intergovernmental Relations refer to the mutual relations between all spheres of government
and all organs of state in South Africa.
The legislative framework for such relations and the hierarchical order of governmental
institutions are specified in the South African 1996 Constitution.
The 1996 Constitution promotes intergovernmental relations by setting out principles of
cooperative government and intergovernmental relations that must be followed by all spheres of
government and all government bodies of South Africa.
Intergovernmental relations can be subdivided into intergovernmental relations that occur
between various governmental bodies at a horizontal and vertical level.
Vertical Intergovernmental Relations is between government institutions in different spheres
of government. In South Africa, they are relations between national, provincial and local
authorities. The National sphere holds more power than the lower authorities. The lower
authorities depend on the higher authorities for resources that they need to achieve goals. This
dependence limits the discretion that can be used by lower authorities in deciding which
community goals should be achieved. While there is a dependence on higher authorities, this
takes the form of interdependence between the authorities (implying that the relations are
reciprocal), and it is this interdependence that gives the lower authority a circumscribed power to
bargain/negotiate. In vertical intergovernmental relations resources such as policy and finance
are relevant.
Horizontal Intergovernmental Relations refer to the relations between governmental
authorities in the same sphere of government. In South Africa, this is the relations between the 9
provincial authorities or the various relations that exist at local government between the ±840
local government bodies. There is no horizontal intergovernmental relations at national level
within South Africa. In horizontal intergovernmental relations there is no formal concept of
power, there is no difference in the negotiating ability and powers of governmental authorities at
the same level of government and although there is still interdependence at the horizontal level,
it differs in terms of the resources needed. At horizontal level, resources such as information and
physical assistance are more applicable. For example local authorities could agree to provide
mutual assistance in areas such as traffic services.
How would Education be governed and managed in a Contempory
South Africa
Governing and managing education and training in contemporary South Africa
South Africa has a Department of Basic Education, a Department of Higher Education and
provincial departments of education. Formal education is not a municipal function here.
5 Features determine the way in which education is administered overall at macro level.
1. The financial exposure of the state in respect of public education in a country like South
Africa is massive. Education is currently the most important service in terms of government
expenditure. This implies that financial control of the budget is essential. By far the largest
portion of the educational budget is spent on the remuneration of teachers. Therefore the
salaries of teachers are a important item in government finance.
2. In South Africa, various governments are involved in education: provincial and national.
Intergovernmental relations should therefore be managed carefully in terms of the
Constitution, where education is listed in Part A of Schedule 4 as one of the functional areas
with synchronized provincial and national legislative ability. At the same time, other bodies
such as school boards and university councils also exercise some governing powers.
3. There are still inequalities in the quality of educational facilities available to learners, but in
some areas a culture of learning and teaching with an accompanying work ethic is not well
established after decades of opposition to the system. Redress is therefore a crucial issue in
the governance and management of education.
4. Education is a service where the actual work is done by professionals (eg qualified teachers).
Labour relations are crucial and the unions are extremely powerful. Teaching at universities,
colleges and private schools is done by professionals who are not in the employ of the state.
5. The existence of, inter alia, a private school and college sector means that not all of the
education is provided by the state,. Training, which is closely related to education, is also
provided largely by the private sector and falls under the Department of Labour. Coordination
is therefore clearly a vital task for education managers in South Africa.
How would Science and Technology be governed and managed in a
Contempory South Africa
Governing and managing Science and Technology in Contemporary South Africa
The responsible department is the Department of Science and Technology, although other
departments such as Trade and Industry also have an interest in this field. Officials responsible
for managing the state’s involvement in the science and technology system should keep the
following 5 factors in mind:
1. Science and technology are essential to a country’s competitiveness. It has been shown that
a highly significant correlation exists between a country’s overall ranking and its science and
technology ranking in, inter alia, the 1992 World Competitiveness Report.
2. Research in science and technology development takes place in the public and the private
spheres. Hence government interventions in the science and technology system should
always take the possible contributions of the private sector into account.
3. The development of technology benefits more people than those who originally invested in
the project.
4. Scientific research is undertaken for commercial as well as intellectual reasons–compare.
Public officials working in the field of science and technology have to be extremely intelligent
because of the mixed nature of the economy involved.
5. Science and technology are highly dependent on the capacity of specialists (professionals)
working in the field: developing the skills of science and technology workers is therefore an
absolute requirement for the development of a country’s strength in the field.
Totalitarianism
“Totalitarianism ... [a system of government and ideology in which all social, political, economic,
intellectual, cultural, and spiritual activities are subordinated to the purposes of the rulers of a
state.
Several important features distinguish totalitarianism, a form of autocracy peculiar to the 20 th
century, from such older forms as despotism, absolutism, and tyranny.
In the older forms of autocracy people could live and work in comparative independence,
provided they refrained from politics.
In modern totalitarianism, however, people are made completely dependent on the wishes and
whims of a political party and its leaders”
Ideology
“Ideology, a comprehensive system of concepts and beliefs, often political in nature, held by a
group or an individual .The modern concept of ideology originated in the writings of Karl Marx,
who believed that ideologies were false systems of political, social, and moral concepts invented
and preserved by ruling classes out of self-interest. According to Marx, religious hierarchies, for
example, perpetuate systems of faith that at bottom protect the economic wellbeing of those in
power.
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