1

1. INTRODUCTION
Upon leaving the pleasant world of theory and entering the harsh world of reality,
we find rapid changing environments and natural disasters that may warrant
government intervention which is there to improve the general welfare of its
citizens. Devastation of an area by fire inter alia requires that policy makers assess
the impact on the economic, social and healthy environments. The problem of
service delivery can be effectively tackled using policy as an enabling function.
The problem after the devastation (for example in Australia by wild fires) is that,
the rendering of services was seriously disrupted during the process. Perceptions of
a policy problem are where those involved in the policy area perceive that
something is not functioning correctly and seek alterations in the existing
pattern(Brynard P.A,2006;360)1. Rochefort and Cobb (1994:17) refer severity as to
how serious a problem and its consequences are perceived to be. Therefore, the
citizens lack clean water, transport facilities, medical care, and proper food as well
as sanitary facilities.

On a devastated environment, it is unlikely that the existing policies will be able to

achieve the ostensible goals. This calls for the analysis and evaluation of the
existing policy in order to make an effective policy for the problems at hand.
The assignment is to analyse and evaluate the existing policies, how they can be
reinforced to adapt the changing environments in the form of disasters such as
fires.lt is worth because the impact of the rapid changing environment will in
certain ways affect the welfare of the citizens in terms of economic, social and
healthy well-being .Firstly the background to the problem will be explained with
the aid of specific references. Secondly, it will be explained that existing policy
arrangements will do less in ensuring effective service rendering. Thirdly, the
impact of devastation on various environment types will be outlined. Fourthly the
arrangements for solving service delivery will be discussed. Lastly the
recommendations will be discussed as well as the administrative implications
thereof.
A deductive, scientific approach will be used in this assignment. Text books in
various fields specifically Public Administration, newspapers, journals as well as
articles will be used to augment and supportrelevant facts and values.
2. BACKGROUND

1
Brynard, P.A :Journal of Public Administration,vol.41,no.2.2 August 2006pp360
 2

For certain, the modern state is now experiencing the most rapid change in its
history. There is little agreement, however, on where this change is leading or what
its ultimate outcome and meaning may be. A hurricane of change is sweeping
through all human institutions, upsetting, devastating, and creating more in an era
than ever before.ln the last couple of years, the effectiveness of public policies has
been diluted due unforeseeable fatalities leading to lack of public services.
Climate changes, natural disasters as well as human negligence have all attributed
to the need to re-visit public policies because of the devastations done in the
process. The recent wild fires which broke in Melbourne and nearby towns in
Australia speak volumes. “Wild fires are a natural annual event in Australia, but
this year a combination of scorching weather drought and tinder-dry bush has
created prime conditions for the blazes to take hold. Green lawmakers have been
urging stiffer climate change policies to reduce the risk of more such summer
disasters”(The Herald, Monday 9 February 2009,1:1)During the fire blazes more
than 200 people were reported dead with more than 1800 homes destroyed in the
country’s worst fire disaster (Herald, Tuesday 24 Feb,2009,7:1).These dramatic
and scornful events have led to unrest of the citizens as some were dead others
injured left with no food, water and in need of medical attention .
3 .THE EXISTING POLICY ARRANGEMENTS
Certainly due to the devastations of the area, the existing policy arrangements will
not be able to help effectively and efficiently render the services to the members of
the community hence the need to examine,analyse and evaluate the loopholes so as
to establish an effective policy for the re-development of the distracted services.
Meiring (2008:20) writes that the rendering of public services necessitates that it
be indicated where the policymakers want to go and what they want to achieve in
the development of a specific area, for example the state, province or a municipal
area. Policies are made and implemented to enable service to humanity thus the
raison d’etre is to promote the general welfare of the citizens.lt is therefore
cardinal in this situation that an effective policy be put in place to ensure provision
of proper food, clean water, ideal accommodation and basic medical care.
Cloete et al (2006:239) write that, public officials especially at top and middle
levels, act as advisors on policy, policy formulation and policy implementation and
also as policy monitors thus comparing results with intentions and that policy
change takes place throughout the policy life-cycle.lt is from this elevation that the
existing policy should be reviewed to accommodate the effects of devastation.
 3

Stephen Dovers2 argues that better public policy is the key to creating a more
sustainable environment. Thus only by having effective policies will help in
achieving the present needs without compromising the future needs of citizens.
4. THE IMPACT OF THE DEVASTATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT
The environment is time and place bound.Meiring (2008:27) writes that, chief
officials face a major challenge to design strategies that will work effectively in a
unique environment, to exploit environmental opportunities and thus cope with
unique environmental forces that affect it. Chief officials as well as politicians
need to acknowledge the impact of the devastations on the various types of
environments in order to wedge an effective policy to provide the services in as
efficient as possible. Thus the impact of any devastation will take place in a
specific environment. The affected environments can be distinguished as economic
environment, social environment as well as the health environment.
4.1 Impact on the Economic Environment
The economic environment is defined by infrastructure which enables officials and
citizens to enjoy their routine activities. After the devastation (for example in
Australia by wild fires, 1800 homes had been destroyed, cars burnt, clothes,
personal belongings burnt, buildings damaged).In some cases bridges are swept
away by floods. These destructions would certainly disrupt the daily functioning of
the day to day activities and therefore demand immediate financial assistance for
the reconstruction process. The unemployment rate would increase while on the
other hand, economic growth, consumer and investor confidence inventory levels,
merchandise trade balance,financial and political health of the citizens would
drastically fall due to the damaging of work places where citizens used to do their
duties. The instability in the economic environment will normally have an effect on
the social environment

4.2 lmpact on the Social Environment

Once the economic environment is tempered with the social services will be
affected. Social services refer to collective interventions which are outside the
market place to meet the needs of individuals as well as to serve the corporate
interests of the wider community. The activities of teachers, social workers as well
as other helping professions are considered as social
services(Rein:1970;47).Henshel and Henshel(1973;79) write that crime is
generally considered one of the most severe of social problems. Kinglake is "where

2
Journal of Public Administration,vol.41,no.2June-2006pp140
 4

the most deaths are, but wherever a death has occurred we investigate that as a
crime," said the Australian Police Commissioner commenting after the
2009February wild fires in Australia. Thus after devastations of human nature
investigations are instituted as arson constitutes a criminal case. After the
devastations by fire in Australia, some teachers could not attend to their duties
because the devastation caused a multitude of urgent problems in, houses, roads
electricity, water.These problems resulted in healthy problems.
4.3 lmpact on the Health Environment
The devastation of an area by fire can have far outweighing repacurtions on the
health of human kind. The destruction of flora and fauna can lead to deadly air
pollution which means there will be unhealthy breathing air for the citizens.
Meanwhile the burning of oxides and fuel as well as gases from refrigerators will
increase the emission of Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons (CFS) which will deplete the
ozone layer in the long run.
The impact on disrupted water services as well as sewerage reticulation will pose a
serious threat of water borne diseases such as cholera
It can be deduced that, in the face of devastation in a community, assets are
destroyed, social life and services distracted and the healthy of citizens threatened.
The impact will therefore require an effective policy to ensure that services are
offered to the required standards.
5. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROBLEM OF SERVICE DELIVERY
USING POLICY AS AN ENABLING FUNCTION
Cloete et al (2006:239) are of the opinion that, the most effective type of change is
the so-called pre-emptive or pro-active policy change in which policy-makers
predict the environmental changes and decide to adapt their policies timeously or
beforehand in order to prepare for these events.The problems of service delivery
are worth preventing as they guarantee political supremacy but once a crisis has hit
environmental scanning to gather information and liason of interested parties
becomes inevitable if the problem is to be addressed effectively and efficiently.
5.1 Environmental Scanning
It is challenging to design and conduct effective environmental scans in a public
sector environment because of the many demands and the heterogenous character
of the public that is served. Environmental scanning is a process of gathering,
analyzing, and dispensing information for tactical or strategic purposes. The
environmental scanning process entails obtaining both factual and
subjective(www.wikipedia.com). The gathering of large amount of information to
 5

measure and study the changes in the environment is very important for any
business to get the latest information about the environment to keep business
steady and stable. In large and small organization the environmental scanning is
must (www.blurtit.com).
Upon devastation of an area, environmental scanning is a must ;ad-hoc scanning
would be ideal as the new environment has been caused by crisis. Environmental
scanning usually refers just to the macro environment which involves, The
Economy, Government, Legal, Technology, Ecology, and Socio-Cultural which are
to be outlined below.
5.1.1 Government
Political climate - amount of government activity, political stability and risk,
government debt, budget deficit or surplus are factors of concern when scanning
the environment.
5.1.2 The Economy
There should be enough research and consideration as to how the following factors
have been affected by the devastation; economic growth, unemployment rate,
consumer and investor confidence inventory levels, merchandise trade balance
financial and political health of the citizens ,future trends.
5.1.3 Legal
Environmental protection laws, worker safety laws, union laws, copyright and
patent laws, municipal licences,laws that favour business investment. Thus there is
need to have legal experts to review the existing laws establishing whether they
are still effective.
5.1.4 Technology
The efficiency of infrastructure, including: roads, ports, airports, rolling stock,
hospitals, education, healthcare, communication; industrial productivity; new
manufacturing processes; new services ; cost and accessibility of electrical power,
water after the devastation should be established.
5.1.5 Ecology
Ecological concerns that affect the government’s service rendering processes,
citizens’ habits as well as citizens' perception of the services of the government
should be established to determine the intervention needed to normalize the natural
ecosystem. The impact of smokes from fires, dead animals, and polluted water
should all be established.
 6

5.1.6 Socio-Cultural
Demographic factors such as: population size and distribution, age distribution,
education levels, income levels, ethnic origins, religious affiliations.
attitudes towards: materialism, individualism, role of family, role of government,
collectivism ,role of church and religion ,consumerism, environmentalism
,importance of work, pride of accomplishment ,cultural structures including diet
and nutrition as well as housing conditions

5.1.7 Potential Suppliers

Labour supply; quantity and quality of labour available, Stability of labour supply
wage expectations ,educational facilities.
Material suppliers; quality, quantity, price, and stability of material inputs as
delivery delays, proximity of bulky or heavy material inputs.
Service Providers; quantity, quality, price, and stability of service facilitators and
special requirements. This should be done to prepare for the invitation of tenders to
offer specific services.
Thus environment scanning involves the examination of how the government,
economy, legal, technology, ecology, socio-cultural factors to study and measure
the changes in the environment.
5.2 The Role of Politicians and chief officials
The politicians should consult with the judiciary, how the service rendering might
affect the human rights. The Bill of Rights3 places the right to healthy environment,
shelter and other basic necessities to the people in the Republic of South Africa.
Chief officials, the Municipal Managers should assess the intensity of destruction
and make a report to the politicians who should also come to assess the impact on
the welfare of the inhabitants of the area in question. The judiciary plays a special
role of interpreting the extent to which the government is providing services to its
people.Moreso the general public will always have to be consulted.
5.3The Role of Judiciary
According to Nakamura and Smallhood (1980:85) judicial action has played a
significant role in determining and enforcing societal priorities in civil rights,
education, criminal procedures, environmental protection and many other
areas.Jugdes are not politicians in the conventional sense but sometimes formulate
3
The Constitution ,Act 108 of 1996,Chapter 2
 7

far-reaching policies.ln a situation where devastation causes a humanitarian crises

judges may formulate urgent policies to protect the rights of the citizens. Thus the
final policy made by the politicians and public officials must be coherent and
consistent with judicial rulings and policies since they are responsible for
interpreting the law of the state. The judiciary usually makes proclamations on
matters raised by the civil society or the general public.
5.4 The Role of Inhabitants/Civil Society
Civil society, in a democratic government, is a channel through which citizens
participate in making and implementing public decisions; in identifying,
prioritizing and resolving public problems, and in allocating and managing public
resources.4Thus whenever an issue or matter of public interest arises whether in a
normal or rapid changing environment the people should be constantly consulted
as to how which services should be provided first. Citizens are the reason why
states and governments exists therefore they should not be taken for granted
especially on matters which involve their welfare.
Solving the crisis of service delivery therefore requires environmental scanning to
study and measure the changes in the environment, consultation with the judiciary
as well as the citizens of the affected environment. Thus has been proved that a an
existing policy will not sustain service delivery in case of a devastation such as that
caused by fire in Australia hence the need to solve the problem by making a new
policy.

6. CONCLUSION
In the face of devastation in a rapid changing environment the rendering of
services is distracted affecting the welfare of the citizens thus the current policy
becomes obsolete and ineffective. The impact of the devastation on the economic,
social and health environments should be established before any action is taken.
The problems of service delivery can be solved using policy as an enabling
function. Environmental scanning to study and measure the changes in the
environment and corporative interaction of politicians, chief officials the judiciary
and citizens will only enable an effective policy to re-develop the devastated
community.

4
Journal of Public Administration,vol.40,no.4.1 December 2005pp667
 8

7. RECOMMENDATIONS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM OF SERVICE

DELIVERY
States are central to development and human well-being (Crisis States Research
Centre-2005)5.In the community where possible crisis in service delivery might
occur due to rapid change in environment such as fires,floods,earthquakes
politicians ,officials and citizens should adapt and corporate before the real crisis
hits on the welfare.This is supported by Botes et al(1992:312),who write that one
characteristic which distinguish public policies from goals and administrative
decisions is that;it should be flexible and adaptable.The rigid and inexorable
implementtion of an unsuitable or obsolete policy is worse than applyng no policy
at all.lt is therefore necessary for those occupying influential positions in the
government; the politicians and public officials to always strive for improvement
of services to the general public.
According to Anderson(2006;272),many states require periodic automobile safety
inspections in an attempt to reduce highway traffic accidents and
fatalities.Research shows that states in mandatory inspection laws do tend to have
fewer traffic fatalities than do other states, although other factors count. This
allows for the assertion that prevention is better than cure. The traditional
approach6 has four phases of disaster management;
prevention/mitigation,preparedness,response and recovery. Thegovernment should
prioritise recovery phase,in which temporary housing, food and clothing, job
assistance and loans to re-start small business, debris clearance and critical stress
debriefing.ln summary l recommend the following be carried out;
-temporary housing be provided
-food and clothing be provided to those who were affected
-job assistance and loans to re-start businesses be provided
-any debris be cleared
-those affected by stress to get critical stress debriefing

5
Crisis States Research Centre-2005;Studies in Comparative lnternational Development.,Vol 43 no.3/4
Fall/winter(2008)
6
Uys F(2005).Approaches to Disaster Management.Journal of Public Administration.Volume40, number32,
November pp410
 9

8 .ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1 Policy Implications
-The policy that spells out what needs to be will have to be coherent and
effective.The goals will be tacitly outlined as to what services should actually be
rendered.
8.2 Financial Implications
Meiring (2001:130) writes that every work by municipal official has a financial
implication. Thus there is need for special budgetary arrangements, control
measures and accounting requirements to ensure the best utilization of the
available resources.
-Economic resources are needed to support health personnel, hospitals clinics,
drugs and equipment. Since in most cases the health system is provided with a
mandate that usually grants the system a quasi-monopoly on the performance of
health services, in line with legislation and regulation by the political system
(Heidenheimer, Arnold J., 1975;179).Thus in such a situation there is need to
urgently mobilize as much finances as possible from both the government as well
as the corporate world to deal precisely with the new healthy demands among other
basic social services.
-A new policy would seek a surplus budget requiring R20 million to accommodate
the new scale of service requirements. The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
announced a A$10 million (R64 million) aid package to rescue the service delivery
programme (The Herald Monday 9 February 2009,1:1).In the situation of a new
policy in a new environment some additional finances to accommodate the new
demands in as effective and efficient as possible would certainly be needed.
8.3 Organising Implications
-The behaviour of the public officials as well as other parties involved should be
regulated.
-Thus work units;posts,sections,divisions and departments should have to be re-
established.Lines of authority and behaviour relationships,clear communication
channels should be vividly pronounced before the operational work
initiates.Functions should be allocated and authority delegated effectively.
8.4 Personnel Implications
-Fire fighters from as far as Mpumalanga and Gauteng were battling to put off the
fires in the Western Cape region of Paarl(etv-news,06 February 2009).Thus
 10

explains the need for manpower from other regions to complement the available
workforce to put out the devastation in progress and to rebuild the infrastructure
after the devastations. An additional number of health care workers as well as
social workers will be needed to treat and counsel people for injuries sustained and
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- New employees should be recruited, selected and placed and trained for the
particular tasks and duties they will be doing.
-The existing workforce should also be trained to adjust to the current thrust
service provision.
8.5 Procedure Implications
-New procedures for each operational activity to provide for the required
infrastructure to be erected.This will result in the best quantitative and qualitative
work performance as Meiring (2008:23) writes it.
-Determination of new working procedures requires that,work be analysed,divided
into operational steps,each step be described and arranged in chronological
order,formulation,approval and publication of procedure,allocation of procedure to
posts as well as execution of procedure
8.6 Control Implications
Babu and Reidhead 20007 are of the view that periodic monitoring of changes in
the conditions of natural resources and their sustainable use is fundamental to
generating information for planning and policy making.Thus a need to, render
accountability on how service rendering is progressing as well demanding
accountability by the politicians and citizens.
-lnspections, auditing and reporting on finances and resources’ utilisation are some
control measures that can be used to exercise control.
-Control measures and standards should be established, control exercised as well as
taking corrective steps.

7
Land use Policy vol 17 no.1 January 2000,Suresh Chandra Babu*,William Reidhead,Washington DC,pp1
 11

Resolutions of The Minister

….………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………..

………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………..

Signature………………………………………Date…………….
 12

REFERENCES
TEXT BOOKS
1. Anderson J.E (2006): Public Policy Making 6TH edition (Houghton Mifflin,
Boston.
2. Botes P.S, Brynard, Fourie D.J, Roux N.L (1992): Public Administration and
Management: A Guide to Central, Regional and Municipal Administration and
Management, KagisoTertiary South Africa.
3. Cloete .F, .Wissink, H.and C.de Coning (2006): lmproving Public Policy-From
theory to practice, Van Schaik, Pretoria.
4. David A. Rochefort and Roger W. Cobb (1994) (Eds.), The Politics of Problem
Definition: Shaping the Policy Agenda. Lawrence: University F*ress of Kansas.
5. Heidenheimer, Arnold J., (1975); Comparative public policy: the politics of
social choice in Europe and America London: Macmillan.
6. Henshel R.L and Henshel A.M (1973); Perspectives on Social Problems, 2nd
Edition, Academic Press, Canada.
7. Meiring, M.H (2008): The Essence of the Public Policy Process (Alice:
Department of Public Administration, UFH).
8. Meiring M.H (2001); Fundamental Public Administration Perspective on
Development, 2nd Edition UPE.
9. Nakamura R.T, and Smallwood F(1980);The Politics of Policy lmplimentation;St
Martins Press ,New York.
10. Stephen Dovers(2005) Environment and Sustainability Policy: Creation,
Implementation and Evaluation , The Federation Press.

JOURNALS
 13

1. Brynard, P.A (2006).The Nature of the Policy Problem. Journal of Public

Administration.volume.41, number.2.2 August 2006
2. Uys F (2005).Approaches to Disaster Management.Journal of Public
Administration.Volume40, number32, November
3. Crisis States Research Centre (2005).Studies in Comparative lnternational
Development.Volume 43 number 3/4 Fall/winter (2008)
4. Mukamunana, R and Brynard (2005).The Role of Civil Society Organisations in
Policy making Process in Rwanda. Journal of Public Administration. volume.40,
number 4.1 December, special issue, SA
5. Suresh Chandra Babu*, William Reidhead (2000). Land use Policy. Volume 17
number 1 January, Washington DC
LEGISLATIONS
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002
The Constitution of South Africa Act 108 of 1996

NEWSPAPERS
The Herald Monday 9 February 2009
Etv-news, 06 February 2009
The Herald, Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009, 7:1)

WEBSITES
http//www.blurtit.com- as it appeared on 4 March 2009 23:05:04GMT (Accessed
on 09 March 2009)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_scanning- as it appeared on 1 Mar
2009 06:00:45 GMT ((Accessed on 09 March 2009)