An ethical leadership framework to curb corruption and promote good governance in South Africa: a case of selected KwaZulu-Natal municipalities=Uhlaka lobuholi benqubonhle lokuvimba inkohlakalo nokuthuthukisa ukuphatha okuhle eNingizimu Afrika: Umbiko woMasipala BaKwaZulu-Natali Abaqokiwe.

Abstract

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of ethical leadership on corruption and good governance in South African municipalities. The pragmatist approach was employed to address the limitations in both the positivism and interpretivism. The study utilised the deductive and inductive approaches to investigate the social phenomenon. The mixed methods approach was employed to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data. The study was conducted in three municipalities within the KwaZulu-Natal province: eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, uMgungundlovu District Municipality, and Msunduzi Local Municipality. The target population for the study was 4000 which included junior employees, Municipal Managers, Chief Financial Officers, Executive Managers and Office of the Mayors. The sample size of 351 was selected using both stratified and purposive sampling techniques. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the data. The quantitative data was collected from 225 participants, while the qualitative data was collected from 12 participants. Data quality was determined through trustworthiness, reliability, and validity. The quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 27.0. On the other hand, the qualitative data was analysed using NVivo, versions 12.0. The quantitative results identified the common manifestation of corruption in the three municipalities: fraud and bribery, mismanagement of funds, abuse of resources, procurement irregularities, unethical behaviour, and appointment irregularities. Moreover, the quantitative results showed the indicators of good governance, such as accountability and transparency. The regression model showed that ethical leadership predict corruption and good governance in the municipalities. The standardised beta value of corruption and good governance (β = 0.556, p <.001), (β = 0.233, p>.005) suggested that ethical leadership contributed more to the fight against corruption than promoting good governance. On the other hand, the qualitative findings showed that the fight against corruption can be won through strengthening anti-corruption agencies, effective legal frameworks, and allocation of resources for anti-corruption agencies, serve punishment for corrupt officials and accountability. Furthermore, the quantitative results showed a significant relationship between ethical leadership, corruption and good governance. The study is unique since it helps in the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance in the public service through ethical leadership. The study expands existing knowledge on ethical leadership, corruption and good governance. It recommends that the municipalities should continue to appoint and invest in ethical leaders to help curb corruption.

Iqoqa

Ucwaningo lwaphenya umthelela wobuholi benqubonhle enkohlakalweni nasekuphatheni kahle komasipala baseNingizimu Afrika. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yokwenza ucwaningo exubile ukuqoqa nokuhlaziya imininingo ewucwaningoluhlonze nocwaningozibalo yomibili. Ucwaningo lwenziwa komasipala abathathu esifundazweni iKwaZulu-Natali: eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, uMgungundlovu District Municipality, naseMsunduzi Local Municipality. Umphakathi wocwaningo owawuhlosiwe wawuyizi-4000 kuhlanganisa izisebenzi eziphansi, iziMenenja zoMasipala, Abaphathi Bezimali Abakhulu, Izimenenja Ezinkulu naMahhovisi eziMeya. Isampula Labantu abangama-351 laqokwa kusetshenziswa amasu amabili okungukuqoka ngokohlelomikhakha nokuyinhloso. Kwasetshenziswa izimposambuzo nezinhlambuzo ekuqoqeni imininingo. Kwaqoqwa imininingo ewucwaningozibalo kubabambiqhaza abangama-225, kanti imininingo ewucwaningoluhlonze yaqoqwa kubabambiqhaza abayi-12. Izingabunjalo lemininingo lakalwa ngokwethembeka, ubuqiniso nokuqinisekiswa. Imininingo yocwaningozibalo yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa iStatistical Package yeSayensi Yenhlaliswanomphakathi, uhlobo i-27.0. Kolunye uhlangothi, imininingo yocwaningoluhlonze yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa uhlobo i-NVivo 12.0. Imodeli impindelamuva yakhombisa ukuthi ubuholi benqubonhle bukwazi ukubikezela inkohlakalo nokuphatha okuhle komasipala. Inani lebhetha (beta) elivanyisiwe lenkohlakalo nokuphatha okuhle (β = 0.556, p <.001), (β = 0.233, p >.005) lakhombisa ukuthi ubuholi benqubonhle bunomthelela omkhulu ekulweni nenkohlakalo kunowokuthuthukisa ukuphatha okuhle. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, okwazuzwa wucwaningoluhlonze kwakhombisa ukuthi ukulwa nenkohlakalo kungaba nokunqoba ngokuqiniswa kwezinhlangano ezilwa nenkohlakalo, izinhlaka zokomthetho ezinomthelela, ukunikezwa kwezinsiza ezinhlanganweni ezilwa nenkohlakalo, nokujeziswa kwezisebenzi ezikhohlakele nokukwazi ukubika. Phezu kwalokho, imiphumela yocwaningoluhlonze yakhombisa ubudlelwano obukhulu phakathi kobuholi benqubonhle, inkohlakalo nokuphatha okuhle. Ucwaningo lwandisa ulwazi olukhona ngobuholi benqubonhle, inkohlakalo nokuphatha okuhle. Luncoma ukuthi omasipala kufanele baqhubeke nokuqoka nokutshala izimali kubaholi abanenqubonhle ukusiza ukuvimba inkohlakalo. Amagama amqoka: Isibophokubika, inkohlakalo, ubuholi benqubonhle, ukuphatha okuhle, ukuphatha ngokusobala