Professionalisation of local public administration management

Abstract

Local government is the sphere of government that is most directly involved in rendering services to communities and individuals. It is also at this sphere of government where the basic needs of people are ddressed. Services like water, sanitation, waste removal and electricity have a direct influence on the quality of life that people live. In order for the occupation of local public administration to contribute meaningfully towards rendering services of a high level, both in quantity and quality, it is important to lay down a number of preconditions. In this research report it was argued that for local public administration management to become a profession in the full sense, it will be necessary: to draw well-qualified graduates from tertiary institutions; to develop practitioners in the occupation on a continual basis; to develop minimum performance standards and requisite competencies; to develop standards of ethical conduct acceptable to the community at large, and the occupation as a whole; and to continuously develop knowledge in the science of public administration as it is found in the local sphere of government.