SOUTH Africa's fifth place on the Ibrahim Index was not grounds for the country to rest on its laurels, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said yesterday.
South Africa's score had improved by a mere half-a-percent since 2008, she told the Public Protector's Good Governance Conference in Pretoria.
"It's a good starting point. It's not a cause to relax."
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Ibrahim Index of African Governance assesses governance and leadership in African countries.
The Index assesses performance across four categories of governance - including Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development.
Madonsela said when South Africa's Constitution was adopted in 1996, those in power had to accept that they were not only accountable to Parliament and the courts, but also to Chapter 9 institutions such as the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector.
"Public power is borrowed. When this power is abused, then the people cannot benefit." She said there were those who still thought of her office in a "before the constitution" mindset and failed to accept the reality of its mandate.
"I do not have to be a court of law to ask you questions (or) ask you to correct your actions."
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told the conference good governance should not be seen as an end in itself. It needed to improve the lives of citizens.
She said for good governance to be achieved, a state needed the capacity to do so. This would be achieved through the recruitment of capable, dependable and flexible public servants.
"We must be wary of people who are just chasing (salary) packages," Dlamini-Zuma said.
The 2011 Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows that South Africa has scored 71 (out of 100) for governance and is ranked 5th out of 53 countries.
South Africa also scores higher than the regional average for Southern Africa, which is 58.
At sub-category level, South Africa's highest rank is in Public Management (1st) and lowest in Personal Safety (44th).
South Africa is also ranked 3rd out of 12 countries in Southern Africa.
The Index also shows that over the past five years, South Africa's overall governance quality has deteriorated (between 2006 and 2010).
Rankings not cause to relax
SOUTH Africa's fifth place on the Ibrahim Index was not grounds for the country to rest on its laurels, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said yesterday.
South Africa's score had improved by a mere half-a-percent since 2008, she told the Public Protector's Good Governance Conference in Pretoria.
"It's a good starting point. It's not a cause to relax."
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Ibrahim Index of African Governance assesses governance and leadership in African countries.
The Index assesses performance across four categories of governance - including Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity and Human Development.
Madonsela said when South Africa's Constitution was adopted in 1996, those in power had to accept that they were not only accountable to Parliament and the courts, but also to Chapter 9 institutions such as the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector.
"Public power is borrowed. When this power is abused, then the people cannot benefit." She said there were those who still thought of her office in a "before the constitution" mindset and failed to accept the reality of its mandate.
"I do not have to be a court of law to ask you questions (or) ask you to correct your actions."
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told the conference good governance should not be seen as an end in itself. It needed to improve the lives of citizens.
She said for good governance to be achieved, a state needed the capacity to do so. This would be achieved through the recruitment of capable, dependable and flexible public servants.
"We must be wary of people who are just chasing (salary) packages," Dlamini-Zuma said.
The 2011 Ibrahim Index of African Governance shows that South Africa has scored 71 (out of 100) for governance and is ranked 5th out of 53 countries.
South Africa also scores higher than the regional average for Southern Africa, which is 58.
At sub-category level, South Africa's highest rank is in Public Management (1st) and lowest in Personal Safety (44th).
South Africa is also ranked 3rd out of 12 countries in Southern Africa.
The Index also shows that over the past five years, South Africa's overall governance quality has deteriorated (between 2006 and 2010).
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