N5 – Module 1
3.4 Providing, Maintaining the Economic Infrastructure This is done in support of the private sector – certain services are historically and practically the function of the central government: the postage service; the telecommunication service; transport; water supply and treatment; supply of electricity, etc. Even if these are contracted out (tenders are put out to private entrepreneurs) the government might still look after the infrastructure – the buildings and equipment. Please see more about tenders in Module 4.
3.5 Establishing and Operating Public Industrial Corporations Industrial corporations do research, plan, develop and produce essential products that benefit the country as a whole. If the private sector neglects to embark on these projects and especially when the activity is of strategic importance to the country such as with the search for oil, or the marketing of strategic materials or goods such as weapons etc., the government usually steps in. Examples are: The National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) which is a development finance institution to fund and facilitate the development of affordable housing; Escom, or the Electricity Supply Commission responsible for all electricity supply to both industry and private homes; the National Ports Authority (NPA).
3.6 Financing of Economic, Industrial and Scientific Research Supporting economic development by funding institutions such as the CSIR and SABS. These organisations assist all sectors of our community and aid development by providing information and support.
Staff Functions or Services: Horizontal These are supporting functions, contributing to the line functions, in order to realise the goals of the government of the day. Administrative staff do all the clerical, secretarial and professional work for their various departments such as health, transport, etc. The following are typical services provided by people in various positions in offices throughout the country:
• Financial services – each government on all levels (central and local), has a department of finance which provides officers, such as accountants, who render financial services to the line function departments.
• Personnel services – offers support in supplying personnel through job analysis, human resource planning, recruiting, training, etc.
• Office and secretarial service – offers support in a secretarial fashion for all clerical duties. • Legal advisory service – office of state Attorney – this office provides legal support as government bodies are often involved ia lawsuits; there is also a need for these services when government bodies contract services out – they allow private individuals or companies to tender for the provision of services – this requires expert legal support and advice. (See privatisation at the end of this module.)
• Organisation and work study – creating and reorganising hierarchical structures and personnel components, working procedures and working methods. (A work study officer is someone who studies the pattern of working procedures in order to find the most efficient method of completing a job).
• Resource supply services – all departments need accommodation, furniture, equipment, machinery and stock for executing their line functions.
• Accounting and auditing services – a system of keeping records of all financial transactions is essential for proper management and accountability to taxpayers.
Classification of Government Services What type of services do governments provide for their citizens? This, of course, depends on the official policy which stems from the ideology the government of the day holds. Generally speaking we look at and classify three different types of services to members of the public.
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