Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework

As is evident in the prevailing water and electricity rationing, South Africa is reeling from a crisis of poor service delivery. Against the background of its apartheid history and liberal constitution, this article examines how South Africa's legal framework promotes efficient service deliver...

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Main Authors: Ebi Okeng, Anthony Chima Diala
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: North-West University 2024-11-01
Series:Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://perjournal.co.za/article/view/17747
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author Ebi Okeng
Anthony Chima Diala
author_facet Ebi Okeng
Anthony Chima Diala
author_sort Ebi Okeng
collection DOAJ
description As is evident in the prevailing water and electricity rationing, South Africa is reeling from a crisis of poor service delivery. Against the background of its apartheid history and liberal constitution, this article examines how South Africa's legal framework promotes efficient service delivery in the context of a social contract theory. Using a literature review and content analysis of legislation, this article argues that basic service delivery is a human right that underlies the core function of the State regarding its social contract with citizens. The article critiques cooperative governance and the demarcation of service delivery duties between the spheres of government in the 1996 Constitution, the Municipal Structures Act, the Municipal Systems Act, and the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act. It demonstrates how the legal framework places a heavy burden on the local government to provide basic amenities. By highlighting how a social contract informs the purpose of the constitutional State, the article demonstrates why service delivery must be taken seriously in a nation desperately in need of socio-economic transformation.
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issn 1727-3781
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-dbaa49522c614b148881fa30f1c4f3792024-11-26T08:26:31ZafrNorth-West UniversityPotchefstroom Electronic Law Journal1727-37812024-11-012710.17159/1727-3781/2024/v27i0a17747Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal FrameworkEbi Okeng0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-0139Anthony Chima Diala1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-0139Law Society of South Africa University of Western Cape As is evident in the prevailing water and electricity rationing, South Africa is reeling from a crisis of poor service delivery. Against the background of its apartheid history and liberal constitution, this article examines how South Africa's legal framework promotes efficient service delivery in the context of a social contract theory. Using a literature review and content analysis of legislation, this article argues that basic service delivery is a human right that underlies the core function of the State regarding its social contract with citizens. The article critiques cooperative governance and the demarcation of service delivery duties between the spheres of government in the 1996 Constitution, the Municipal Structures Act, the Municipal Systems Act, and the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act. It demonstrates how the legal framework places a heavy burden on the local government to provide basic amenities. By highlighting how a social contract informs the purpose of the constitutional State, the article demonstrates why service delivery must be taken seriously in a nation desperately in need of socio-economic transformation. https://perjournal.co.za/article/view/17747Human rightsservice deliverysocial contract theorygood governanceSouth Africa
spellingShingle Ebi Okeng
Anthony Chima Diala
Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal
Human rights
service delivery
social contract theory
good governance
South Africa
title Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
title_full Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
title_fullStr Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
title_full_unstemmed Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
title_short Promotion of Service Delivery in Terms of the Social Contract Theory in South Africa's Legal Framework
title_sort promotion of service delivery in terms of the social contract theory in south africa s legal framework
topic Human rights
service delivery
social contract theory
good governance
South Africa
url https://perjournal.co.za/article/view/17747
work_keys_str_mv AT ebiokeng promotionofservicedeliveryintermsofthesocialcontracttheoryinsouthafricaslegalframework
AT anthonychimadiala promotionofservicedeliveryintermsofthesocialcontracttheoryinsouthafricaslegalframework