Professionalism : the ethical challenge for municipal employees

Abstract

This paper examines the role of professionalism in promoting effective, efficient, \nimpartial, fair, equitable and ethical municipal service delivery. The paper starts \nby identifying relevant literature on the topic. It further focuses on the identification \nof the characteristics of a profession. These characteristics include: intensive \ncompulsory education at recognised educational institutions as prerequisite for entry, \nexistence of a code of conduct, organising into a professional association, a monopoly \nin a particular field of work and intellectual rather than manual work. These \ncharacteristics are used as yardsticks to determine whether public administration \n(hence municipal administration) is a profession or not. Attention is paid to the role \nof municipal administration education and training in promoting professionalism. The \nrole of the Institute for Local Government Management of South Africa in promoting \nprofessionalism has been identified. The professional roles of municipal managers are \nidentified and explained. These roles are acknowledging politics, acting as leaders, \npromoting ethics and acknowledging workplace diversity. It is concluded that municipal \nemployees must be willing to pay the price for choosing to uphold their obligations \nas citizens (as whistle-blowers) in the face of governmental corruption and irresponsible \nconduct. The price they must be willing to pay include victimisation.

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