The ethics of transparency in the public sector
This dissertation focused on the ethics of transparency in the public sector. The study was inspired by various sets of circumstances in the Republic of South Africa in which corruption and secrecy in terms of the activities of the public sector played an important role. In the study, consideration was given to the various definition of the concept of ethics, values and morals as well as how ethics, values and morals affect public officials in corruption. An objective of the study was to describe and analyse the special role played by ethical dimensions as a variable in establishing a framework within which openness and transparency have to take place in the public sector. The public official accepts the code of ethics as the standard against which ethical behavior will be measured, it will ensure that the acts of public officials are at all times transparent and ethical and conforms to morality and values. Clarification was given to the meaning, causes and manifestation of corruption, where corruption deemed to have taken place whenever a public official involve in corruptible behavior such as the misuse of his / her power in exercising his/her duties as well as deviating from prescribed rules and regulations, such behavior being to that person's benefit and detrimental to the public. This study also centered around to the measures available to combat the manifestations of corruption. Possible remedies for unethical and untransparent conduct were discussed. The concept of accountability, the role of a free press and other formal measures deployed against corruption and transparent governance were also discussed. Governments has an obligation to communicate with citizens and citizens have a right to be informed of Government's policy and actions to enable them to comply with the requirements arising from governments policies. They also need information to be able to exercise their democratic rights to be able to decide on the basis of accurate information.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations