Integrating Ubuntu philosophy in South African legislation for managing public sector ethics

Abstract

Extant research demonstrates that indigenous ethical systems can significantly shape public administrators’ decision-making processes. However, the inclusion of indigenous ethical systems has been limited. The exclusion of indigenous ethical systems like Ubuntu from South Africa’s public sector ethics framework has resulted in a lack of cultural relevance, weakening ethical conduct, undermining accountability and trust, and limiting the framework’s effectiveness in promoting integrity and combating corruption. This article aims to assess the potential of integrating the Ubuntu philosophy into South African legislation for managing public sector ethics. This article employs a qualitative approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data to examine the frequency with which Ubuntu philosophy is integrated into existing legislation from secondary sources for managing public sector ethics. Findings of the study reveal limited incorporation of Ubuntu philosophy in the existing legislative framework for managing public sector ethics, resulting in lack of ethical governance and accountability in South Africa. To address the lack of incorporation of Ubuntu principles in the above legislation, there is a need for explicit references to the Ubuntu principles. This study contributes to public administration scholarship by critically highlighting the limited integration of the Ubuntu philosophy within South Africa’s public sector ethics legislation and offering practical recommendations for embedding indigenous ethical principles to enhance cultural relevance, strengthen ethical conduct, and improve accountability and integrity in public service delivery.