Provincial Paths to Democratic Accountability in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Examining the impact of political patronage on the efficacy of SAA in executing its mandate

“…The paper concurs with the paper that the main issues within state organizations begin with political affiliations which leads to political deployments, particularly in state-owned entities. Furthermore, the paper further cemented that political heads use their influence, affliction, and status to influence such key decisions, particularly in South Africa as Mamogale (2017) has alluded. Hollibaugh Jr et al, (2014 agrees with the scholars by documenting that political elites use this opportunity of political patronage as an authority and a right to appoint their candidates to state organs.…”

“…In the study of Mamogale (2017) where scholars explain that political patronage and cadre deployment is a common practice, particularly in a political system there is a dominant party such as the ANC. The paper concurs with the paper that the main issues within state organizations begin with political affiliations which leads to political deployments, particularly in state-owned entities.…”

“…This further depicts that political patronage is noted to be a challenging factor across the globe, perpetuating corruption and political alliance through patriotic networks. Karp and Banducci (2008) argue about the dominance of the ANC, the scholars have agreed with Mamogale (2017) signaling the dominance of the ruling party in the polls and later at the administrative duties level. Meaning their dominance at the polls gives them the ability to largely occupy public offices and SOEs without any hindrance.…”

“…Since the twenty-seven (27) years of democracy, the ANC has successfully been winning national and eight out of nine provincial elections and attaining the majority in parliament and eight provincial legislatures (Karp and Banducci, 2008). Hence Karp and Banducci (2008): Mamogale (2017) and Ndaba (2021) have agreed that members of the ANC have had ample time and opportunity to occupy strategic roles in the levels of government as well as key institutions of the government.…”

“…Patronage can be understood as having the right and authority to appoint individuals to an office (Hollibaugh Jr, Horton, and Lewis, 2014). In particular public offices, political heads/elites use their power to appoint individuals of their choice to public office, and this is mainly common in South Africa as a result of political affiliation and/or deployment (Mamogale, 2017). Political patronage seems to be the most important component in the agenda of fighting corruption and rebuilding the confidence of legitimate job appointments at SOEs and levels of government (Gray, 2018).…”