Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop organisational ethics and encourage an ethical culture in the South African public sector. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches for solving the problem of corruption indicates the need to observe the principles of organizational ethics to provide and preserve the circumstances necessary to support the integrity of democratic institutions and processes. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that this study intends to adhere to ethical principles stipulated in Section 195 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, stipulating that democratic principles shall guide South Africa’s governmental administration. These goals may be achieved by implementing a strong organizational ethics management system. Investigation in the paper is conducted in the following logical sequence: an overview of corruption in the South African public sector is explored, followed by an explanation regarding the significance of organizational ethics management in reducing corruption. The methodological tools of the research methods include a desktop study of the existing literature and official legislation and regulatory documents required for the research. Organizational ethics management was theoretically and contextually analyzed utilizing qualitative research methodologies and trend analysis. The results show that although the South African government has implemented remedial procedures to address unethical behavior in the public sector, the study found that financial mismanagement and corruption continue to predominate investigations, commissions of inquiry, and the media. These occurrences also include non-compliance with laws and regulations. Furthermore, disciplinary procedures are implemented improperly, and supervision mechanisms are not properly used or enforced. Based on the research results, proposals for policy changes and a list of priority corrective measures specific to the South African situation are made. The provided practical recommendations to support an ethical environment in the South African public sector may be helpful for representatives of the public administration and other public institutions. Although the subject of corruption is not new, it still needs ongoing dialogue and participation between academics, legislators, and policymakers to come up with solutions tailored to each nation.

Keywords: corruption, democratic principles, ethical culture, organisational ethics management, qualitative approach, South African public sector, theory of deontology.

JEL Classification: Z00.

Cite as: Vyas-Doorgapersad, S. (2022). Organisational Ethics Management to Combat Corruption in the South African Public Sector. Business Ethics and Leadership, 6(3), 14-22. https://doi.org/10.21272/bel.6(3).14-22.2022

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

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