“Good Governance and Ethics” in the South African Municipalities

Good governance is a solid foundation for improving service delivery and sustainable growth. Good governance and a good work ethic should be on the minds of politicians and senior civil servants if they are to sincerely improve the livelihoods of the poor on the South African continent. The 1994 Public Service Transformation identified the need for a code of conduct in South Africa as an essential element in raising high standards of ethics and professionalism. It is necessary to plan to implement measurable strategies, conduct ongoing fraud risk assessments, and raise public awareness through education and training in good governance and ethics. The purpose of this article is to assess how unethical practices affect good governance practices and, in particular, people’s trust in local government. In this context, the research is purely conceptual and has followed analysis of secondary data. It is imperative to implement ethical principles for economic and social development at the local level. The Public Service Commission then developed a code of conduct in 1997. Mismanagement is increasingly seen as one of the root causes of crime in our society. Corruption, poor service delivery, crime, and critical infrastructure not being properly maintained are signs that power cuts and good governance are deteriorating in South Africa. Ethical behaviour makes an organization more agile and effective. There is also a need to advocate and promote ethical practices for city councillors and employees.