The oxymoron of participatory democracy in the South African maturing democracy: A dialectical paradoxes of public<i> </i>administration

Abstract

The maturing democracy in South Africa is navigating challenges within the context of participatory democracy, which has evolved into two distinct states. The arrangement of these two states reflects the citizens' efforts to mobilise for the public state, as opposed to their belief in the private state. The public state is exemplified by active participation aimed at advancing the interests of the impoverished, which should serve as a foundational element to inform the government of its citizens' desires. The second state is the private state (intra-state), which functions in the digital age and communicates swiftly on various matters distinct from those of the public state. All these states appeal to the same government, yet one state appears to be thriving more than the others, complicating the philosophical framework that underlies South Africa's public administration aimed at unifying the nation. This study aims to illustrate the quality of services and the dependencies of these two states on government, highlighting how their existence is scientifically steering the government in divergent directions. Secondly, this illustrates how these two states are influenced by class contradictions within society, where one class oppresses another to promote its interests through government influence. The study concludes that intra-state arrangements are illegitimate, serving to exploit power dynamics over the public state and impacting national interests. A single public state is recommended for establishment.

Keywords: {'name': 'Oxymoron, Participatory Democracy, Non-participatory Democracy, States, Public Administration'}

Authors & affiliations

B.K. Sebake
Central University of Technology

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.18196/jphk.v4i1.14406

Asenahabi, B. M. (2019). Basics of research design: A guide to selecting appropriate research design. International Journal of Contemporary Applied Researches, 6(5), 76–89.

DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2021.1928187

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26983-8_3

Enaifoghe, A. (2023). The Role of Ethical Behavior and Public Value Creation in the Local Government System in South Africa. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 6(1), 471–483.

DOI: 10.1093/geront/gny037

DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2017.1327181

DOI: 10.1177/00323217211043433

DOI: 10.2307/3235441

DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.03.010

DOI: 10.1177/20539517231160528

DOI: 10.25159/2663-6549/12602

DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102270

DOI: 10.1111/eulj.12156

DOI: 10.1108/JKM-06-2017-0232

DOI: 10.1111/gove.12502

DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-55269-3_49

Mabeba, S. J. (2021). The impact of corruption on service delivery: a topical matter in the South African Municipalities. The Business and Management Review, 165.

DOI: 10.1086/709495

Maela, K. D., & Selepe, M. (2023). The Nuts and Bolts of Public Participation and Good Governance in South Africa: A Critical Review. International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 6(10), 238–251.

DOI: 10.1111/soc4.13004

DOI: 10.1002/pa.1935

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-10576-0_3

DOI: 10.1177/0261018320906776

DOI: 10.1093/ser/mwy051

DOI: 10.17159/2223-0386/2023/n29a6

DOI: 10.1086/679597

Ndlovu, S. M. (2017). The anatomy of the crowd. In South African Democracy Education Trust (eds.), In Road to Democracy in South Africa (Vol. 7, pp. 44–78). Unisa Press.

Nengwekhulu, R. H. (2009). Public service delivery challenges facing the South African public service. Journal of public administration, 44(2), 341–363.

DOI: 10.20952/revtee.v14i33.15614

DOI: 10.1080/00344893.2020.1823461

DOI: 10.1353/jod.2020.0000

DOI: 10.4324/9781315251196-15

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-86410-1_6

DOI: 10.1177/0020852318759736

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.082

Ruhiiga, T. M. (2009). Costing the impact of corruption on service delivery in South Africa: An exploratory overview. Journal of Public Administration, 44(4), 1090–1101.

DOI: 10.1177/03043754231174757

DOI: 10.1080/13510347.2023.2228710

Sebake, B. K. (2017). Neoliberalism in the South African post-apartheid regime: Economic policy positions and globalisation impact. International Conference on Public Administration and Development Alternatives (IPADA).

DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3099

DOI: 10.55190/JPADA.2024.304

DOI: 10.31920/2516-3132/2023/v7n1a6

Sebake, B. K., & Sebola, M. P. (2014). Growing trends and tendencies of corruption in the South African public service: Negative contribution to service delivery. Journal of public administration, 49(3), 744–755.

Sebola, M. P., & Tsheola, J. P. (2020). Philosophical dialectics and systematic absoluteness of self-criticism: editorial framing. Journal of Public Administration and Development Alternatives (JPADA), 5(1), i–xiii.

Sebola, M. P., & Tsheola, J. P. (2023). Are Democracies Preserves of Governance? Journal of Public Administration and Development Alternatives (JPADA), 8(2), i–iv.

DOI: 10.17159/2221-4070/2023/v12i2a8

DOI: 10.1080/18146627.2017.1358066

DOI: 10.1002/2017RG000574

DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3096

DOI: 10.1108/01443570911006018

DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v12i10.3121

DOI: 10.9770/IRD.2023.5.4(2)

DOI: 10.1007/s10796-020-10096-3

DOI: 10.30651/justitia.v7i1.17565

DOI: 10.17159/2224-7912/2024/v64n3a2

DOI: 10.1080/13511610.2020.1828049

DOI: 10.4300/JGME-D-15-00566.1

DOI: 10.4324/9781315037479-6

DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2020.07.090