Good governance should result in better life for all – Dlamini Zuma

The effort to maintain good governance in the affairs of the state should not be an end itself.

It should be about bettering the lives of the people, Home Affairs Minister Dr Nkosaza Dlamini Zuma said in Pretoria on Monday.

“As public representatives, we owe it to the citizens to deliver on the promises they have voted for,” she told delegates at the Public Protector Good Governance Conference at the CSRI Convention Centre.

The conference forms part of the activities of the week long Public Protector Good Governance Week, which was launched by Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela at Marabastad taxi rank earlier in the day.

The Week aims to enhance access to Public Protector Services while promoting good governance in state affairs.

Other activities include stop shops at shopping malls, unannounced visits at government service points, interaction with traditional leaders and a public lecture to be addressed by the Public Protector at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Soshanguve Campus on Wednesday

Delivering a keynote address at the conference, Dlamini Zuma said an excellent team of public servants and inspirational leadership were some of the requirements for the state to be accountable and adhere to principles of good governance.

She said capacity was central for the state to deliver on its commitment to good governance.

“This is very important because laws, systems and technology may assist with good governance but it is the human resources that are critical to the implementation of policies and balances,” Dlamini Zuma said.

The Public Protector said while good governance instruments such as the annual Mo Ibrahim Index projected South Africa as doing well in terms of maintaining clean governance, this was not a call for the country to relax.

The conference, which is held under the theme: “Strengthening Synergies & Leadership in Ensuring Public Accountability” and supported by the German Federal Agency, GIZ, will come to an end on Tuesday.

Issued by the Public Protector South Africa. For more information, contact:

Momelezi Kula (Mr)
Executive Manager: Outreach, Education and Communication
Public Protector South Africa
Tel: 012 366 7059
Cell: 083 494 4074
Email: momelezik@pprotect.org 
Website: www.publicprotector.org