This study has presented a critical analysis of Public Administration doctorates in South Africa between 1994 and 2007. The methodology utilised is that of content analysis of completed Public Administration doctoral abstracts (116 in total). These were classified according to analytical and descriptive research variables, which included type of doctorate, year of completion, research focus, research purpose, methodology and contribution to knowledge. The findings of this analysis have been presented in light of making tentative statements regarding the state of research. The analysis of the doctorates was shown to mirror the findings of the international and local studies with regards to the state of Public Administration research. Doctorate research primarily focuses on practice, the methodology employed is mostly desktop and the research does not appear to significantly contribute to knowledge. It is the findings regarding knowledge that is of greatest concern as contributing to knowledge is one of the key requirements, established by universities, in attaining a research doctorate.

Bibliography: pages 198-214. / This thesis discusses the casino complex as a factor in development strategies in the newly independent state, with particular reference to Bophuthatswana. The main body of the thesis (Chapter Four) commences with a brief discussion of the history of development in Southern Africa: the South African Government's policy of Separate Development which ensured the creation of the newly independent states, one of which is Bophuthatswana, and their National Development Corporations; in the case of Bophuthatswana, the Bophuthatswana National Development Corporation. Due to their independent status, the national states were entitled to invite casino complex developments to their respective countries; the casino complex developments all engaged and controlled by Sun International. Sun International Bophuthatswana, its characteristics and policies are discussed in depth in, and conclude, Chapter Four.

Includes bibliographical references.

Bibliography: pages 208-215. / This thesis explores the debate for public sector and private sector agency for the provision of local authority services. A methodological approach was devised to examine each potential case for privatisation and to evaluate both the public and private sector agencies in terms of the three identified criteria viz. economic and financial, strategic and political, and administrative and managerial. The field study included an investigation, aided by a literature survey and the collection of further relevant data pertaining to selected local authority services. Data and evidence were collected primarily through personal structured interviews with senior executives in both the public and private sectors. The methodological approach was applied to case studies of the solid waste ( collection and disposal) and construction (civil engineering and building) services of the Cape Town City Council.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-172). / This dissertation is a study on Public Administration research in South Africa. It explores the current nature of Public Administration research in the country by analysing and categorising journal articles extending over a thirteen year time period from 1994-2006. The hypothesis guiding this dissertation is that South African Public Administration research focuses too heavily on practitioner-orientated research (applied research) rather than enhancing basic, theory-generating research. The methodology used is a content analysis of two prominent South African Public Administration journals: Journal of Public Administration (JOPA) and Administratio Publica (AP). A total of 383 articles (278 from JOPA and 105 from AP) were classified according to a set of descriptive and analytical variables to measure research characteristics prevalent within the field. Findings from this study not only confirm the hypothesis but also conclude that research deficiencies identified in the British and United States contexts exist within South African Public Administration research. This implies that there has been little evidence of developing a cumulative knowledge base within the discipline and research methodologies are generally of a poor quality making little effort to contribute to a systematic, scholarly base of Public Administration knowledge. Therefore basic, scholarly theory development in the field is weak.

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-98).

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 100-108).

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-125).

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-96). / In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, and in particular in South Africa and Botswana, the Ombudsman institution was only established in 1995 and 1997 respectively. The institution is still at an infant stage and needs to be nurtured and protected. The study seeks to demonstrate and evaluate the extent to which this institution has been effective in delivering justice in the public service. The comparative evaluation of the institution in the two countries seeks to find out the impact of the institution in society and the challenges that the institution encounters and hence inf1uence strategic interventions for improved performance.

Thesis (M. P. A.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2005. / "Fall 2005." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-81).