WHAT WE DO
PROGRAMS & PROJECTS.
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We are dedicated to advancing a variety of programs and projects that align with our mission to promote transparency, accountability, and ethical governance. Our initiatives include advocating for Digital Access & Privacy Rights, ensuring that all citizens have equitable access to digital technologies while safeguarding their personal information from misuse. We also focus on Governance & Ethics, working to foster a culture of integrity and accountability in both the public and private sectors, promoting ethical leadership and governance frameworks that uphold the public interest.
In the realm of Public Procurement, we actively promote Open Procurement as a means to enhance transparency and accountability in public spending. By advocating for transparent procurement processes, we aim to curb corruption and ensure that public resources are managed responsibly and efficiently. Additionally, we champion Economic Inclusion, striving to create opportunities for marginalised communities to participate in economic activities and benefit from public resources and programs. Our work in this area focuses on addressing systemic barriers and advocating for policies that promote fair access to economic opportunities.
At the heart of our work is the moral force of persuasion, through which we encourage civic engagement by celebrating and reinforcing ethical behaviour, while exposing corruption and demanding accountability. We collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders to address complex economic, social, and environmental challenges. Our ambition is to transform public participation by cultivating dialogue, ethical citizenship, engagement, collaboration, and conscientiousness within communities. By promoting digital access, privacy rights, ethical governance, and economic inclusion, Public Interest SA seeks to energise public discourse and foster a more just and engaged society.
Workshops & Seminars
We are deeply committed to fostering public accountability and ethical behaviour through a variety of platforms that engage citizens, public officials, employees, and thought leaders. By hosting workshops, seminars, dialogues, and conferences, the organisation creates spaces for critical discussions and training on governance, ethical practices, and decision-making in South Africa. These forums serve as vehicles to educate and empower participants, equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to hold public institutions accountable. In addressing issues such as corruption, service delivery, and the transparency of decision-making processes, our events encourage informed civic engagement. The workshops organised by us are designed to provide participants with practical skills and strategies for promoting transparency and accountability. These sessions often focus on enhancing the understanding of laws and regulations, such as the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protected Disclosures Act, which are essential for whistleblowers and those involved in monitoring public services. By breaking down complex legal frameworks, these workshops ensure that individuals are better equipped to challenge unethical behavior in public offices. Seminars and conferences, such as the annual Whistleblowers Summit, bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society, and academia, to discuss the importance of ethical leadership and institutional accountability. These events not only provide a platform for thought leaders to share insights but also encourage networking and collaboration across sectors. Through high-level dialogues, we facilitate the exchange of ideas and the development of actionable solutions that address the challenges of governance in the country. In essence, Public Interest SA leverages these interactive forums to cultivate a culture of accountability, empowering citizens to actively participate in the governance process and ensuring that public officials remain transparent in their actions.
Government Performance Advocacy & Monitoring
Public Interest SA has developed a suite of Barometer tools and initiatives aimed at improving government performance, enhancing user satisfaction with digital services, and promoting transparency and accountability. These tools are designed to monitor, measure, and report on the availability and efficiency of online government services, helping to drive meaningful improvements in service delivery. By offering transparent tracking of incidents, performance bottlenecks, and public satisfaction, these initiatives serve as critical instruments in fostering trust between the government and its citizens. The e-Government Barometer is a flagship initiative that monitors the availability and effectiveness of digital public services across various government departments. It evaluates factors such as response times, service uptime, and the ease of access to critical online functions like identity verification, license renewals, and other essential services. By compiling and analysing data, the Barometer provides real-time insights into how well these services meet user expectations, allowing for targeted interventions to optimize service delivery. This enhances **user satisfaction** and ensures that public services remain accessible to all citizens, regardless of location or socioeconomic background. A key focus of Public Interest SA’s Barometer initiatives is to fortify accountability and transparency within government operations. The tools not only track service availability but also provide public reports on service outages, delays, or incidents of poor performance. This proactive approach helps mitigate potential corruption concerns by shedding light on inefficiencies and ensuring that government entities remain answerable for the quality of their digital services. By doing so, these tools foster a culture of transparency and encourage greater public oversight of government digital platforms. Additionally, Public Interest SA seeks to optimise interagency collaboration through the Barometer tools by identifying areas where government departments and agencies can improve coordination. This includes analysing data to find gaps in communication and integration between different entities that could be leading to delays or inefficiencies in service provision. By highlighting these areas, the Barometer tools assist in streamlining government workflows, reducing duplication of efforts, and ensuring that public services are delivered in a seamless and efficient manner. Through these initiatives, Public Interest SA is playing a pivotal role in transforming how digital public services are delivered, making them more efficient, accountable, and transparent, ultimately contributing to better governance and public trust in South Africa.
