Between policy and practice : the political : administrative dynamics of policy implementation in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

Political executives, including the Premier, Members of the Executive Council, and Director-Generals, have effectively implemented policies in Gauteng Province, showcasing strong governance. While these executives have adopted well-designed policies, challenges remain in translating decisions into actionable outcomes within the province. This study reveals that political executives in Gauteng are developing and implementing mechanisms and practices aimed at enhancing policy effectiveness. The thesis posits that the culture and values of political executives must be central to discussions about public policy implementation. It begins by defining policy implementation as the application of techniques to benefit communities, followed by four key reasons why these aspects are vital in Gauteng Province: Firstly, political executives embody the value systems essential for determining whether policies will achieve their intended goals; secondly, the success of policy implementation in Gauteng relies on the legitimacy of the existing cultural and value frameworks to reach desired outcomes; thirdly, addressing the tensions inherent in policy implementation is crucial in a democratic context; and fourthly, Policy implementation influences culture and values, creating feedback loops that reshape the environment for future policy initiatives across different departments in Gauteng. The discussion draws upon various themes from public policy, particularly integrating elements of complexity, change theory, and institutional theory, supported by both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Questionnaires and semistructured interviews were utilized to gather and analyze data, focusing on how political executives effectively implement policies in Gauteng. The political executives navigated the factors influencing voting behaviour, particularly through a recent "realist" perspective on the democratic process in policy implementation. While the thesis does not aim for a comprehensive review of policy implementation, it identifies key themes, findings, and gaps in policy implementation, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and NVivo software to assist political executives in refining policy implementation strategies in their respective departments. These insights contribute to developing solutions such as contextual framework, for the impact and implications of implementing policies in Gauteng Province, South Africa.