Overview

Welcome to the Department of Public and Development Administration! As a prospective student, or someone who wants to further his/ her qualifications, you will need to make some important decisions. Our vision is to provide communities skilled public service personnel. In doing so, we need to train and equip students in our department with appropriate skills for South Africa’s unique circumstances.

Brief history of the department

The Department of Public and Development Administration was initially known as the Department of Public, Municipal, and Development Management with the inception of the University of Venda during 1982. The department’s first permanent member (Mr. D J C Riekert) commenced his duties in 1985 as a Senior Lecturer. He was later that same year appointed Head of the Department and a full member of Senate. He was responsible for teaching Public Administration on all three undergraduate levels. Local Government was offered at that stage only on the first year level.
Since these early years, the Department has grown significantly. It is currently offering Public Administration, Local Government (up to second year) and Development Management. We have also added the Oliver Tambo Institute of Policy Studies, mainly for post graduate students in the public service.

Mandate

Our mandate is to teach, to do research and to be at the service of the community in which we operate. Our mandate is closely aligned with the University of Venda and the School of Management Sciences, namely to be responsive to fulfill the development needs of communities in the region by using appropriate learning technologies and research.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

Bachelor of Administration ( BADMAP)

• NSC with Bachelor’s endorsement or grade 12 certificate with exemption
• Minimum APS of 26 excluding life orientation
• Adequate achievement level of 3 (40%-49%) in English
• Adequate achievement level of 3 (40%-49%) in any four of the 20 credit subjects

BACHELOR OF ADMINISTRATION

BADMAP (PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION)

HONOURS DEGREES

HONOURS BACHELOR OF ADMINISTRATION (BAdmin) (Hon)

i. Public Administration
ii. Development Management Studies

HONOURS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (BADMHA)
Admission Requirements:
Public Administration PAD3541 & PAD3641 and PAD3542 & PAD3642 with an average pass mark of 60% in PAD3541 & PAD3641. An Honours paper in a related subject in which the candidate has passed the third year course for the Bachelor's degree with the approval of the Heads of Department concerned.
The honours programme can be offered over a maximum period of two years. The examination consists of five 3-hour papers to be chosen from the following:
i. DMS5740 Research Methodology and Mini Dissertation (compulsory)
ii. PAD5741 Administrative Theory and Practice (compulsory)
iii. PAD5742 Financial Administration
iv. PAD5743 Personnel Administration
v. PAD5744 Municipal Administration
vi. PAD5745 Government Planning
vii. PAD5746 International Administration
viii. PAD5747 Comparative Public Administration
ix. PAD5748 Administration of Development
x. PAD5749 Organizational Theory
OR
xi. Any approved modules offered for Honours in Development Management Studies

HONOURS IN DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT STUDIES (BADMHD)
Admission Requirements
Development Management Studies (DMS3541 & DMS3641) with a pass mark of 60%
The honours programme can be offered over a maximum period of two years. The examination consists of five 3-hour papers to be chosen from the following:
Note: Modules to be offered will depend on the availability of personnel.
The examination consists of five 3-hour papers to be chosen from the following:
i. DMS5740 Research Methodology and Mini Dissertation (compulsory)
ii. DMS5741 Development Theories (compulsory)
iii. DMS5742 Developmental Institutions and Governance
iv. DMS5743 Selected Development Constraints
v. DMS5744 Community Development
vi. DMS5745 Development Management
vii. DMS5746 Contemporary Issues for Sustainable Development

MASTER OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

FIRST YEAR:

SEMESTER 1

Six compulsory core modules (Category I) for all three degrees:
i. PDM6181 Policy and Policy Analysis
ii. PDM6182 Research Methodology
iii. PDM6183 Financial Management
iv. PDM6184 Personnel Management
v. PDM6185 Information Technology
vi. PDM6186 Ethics and Accountability

SEMESTER 2

Five compulsory specialisation modules (Category II) to be selected from each programme:

Public Management (MPM)
i. MPM6281 The Legal Environment in Management
ii. MPM6282 Organizational Development
iii. MPM6283 Legislation, Conflict Management and Communication
iv. MPM6284 International Relations
v. MPM6285 Theory and Practice of Governance
vi. MPM6286 Gender and Equity Management

Municipal Management (MMM)
i. MMM6281 Municipal Law
ii. MMM6282 Provincial and Municipal Systems
iii. MMM6283 Contemporary Municipal Government
iv. MMM6284 Municipal Government and Reconstruction and Development Management
v. MMM6285 Municipal Committee Management
vi. MMM6286 Municipal Electoral Systems

Development Management (MDM)
i. MDM6281 Central Issues and Contemporary Foci in Development Studies: Approaches, Strategies and Practice
ii. MDM6282 Development Planning, Programming and Project Management
iii. MDM6283 Urban/Rural Community Development Management and Planning
iv. MDM6284 Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development Management
v. MDM6285 Domestic Issues in Development
vi. MDM6286 Institutions in Development Management

SECOND YEAR:

SEMESTER 1

Five elective modules (Category III) to be selected from:
i. CSM6381 Developing Leadership
ii. CSM6382 Productivity and Performance
iii. CSM6383 Management of Public Enterprises
iv. CSM6384 Privatisation/ Nationalisation
v. CSM6385 Orientation to Politics
vi. CSM6386 Municipal Service Delivery
vii. CSM6387 Municipal Government and Democracy
viii. CSM6388 Development Aid
ix. CSM6389 Development Management, Peace Management, Communication and the State
x. CSM6100 Futuristic and Development Management.

SEMESTER 1 & 2 (YEAR MODULE)

Mini-Dissertation to be selected according to the area of specialization

i. MPM6200
ii. MMM6200
iii. MDM6200

DOCTOR OF ADMINISTRATION (DAdmin)

The examination consists of a thesis on a subject in Public Administration or Development Administration (PAD7000 or DAD7000), which must be a new contribution to the field.
See general and School rules on Doctoral degrees

THE MINI-DISSERTATION

a) The mini-dissertation must meet all the requirements prescribed for a scientific research project.
b) A proper research proposal must be submitted and be approved by the Board of the Institute.
c) The length of the mini-dissertation may not exceed 100 typed pages.

EXAMINATION OF THE MINI-DISSERTATION

1. On recommendation of the Institute Board, the School Board shall appoint: the study leader, co-study leader, one examiner not involved in the teaching of that particular subject and one external examiner
2. The mini-dissertation may be handed in only upon the written recommendations of the study leader and co-study leader, where applicable, for examination. The mini-dissertation will be available for inspection by the Institute and School Board members before a copy is submitted for examination to the external examiner. The inspection copy will be made available in the University Library for a period of 14 days.
3. All examination reports will be evaluated by the Institute Board for recommendations to the School Board. One of the following recommendations must be made:

PASS

The candidate passes with a given mark. Should there be a difference of marks between the examiners, the average mark will be calculated by adding all marks and dividing the total by the number of examiners. If any corrections are to be effected in the mini-dissertation, the study leader must see to it that all corrections are effected, and then submit a declaration to this effect to the School Board. A corrected Mini-dissertation must be submitted before the degree may be awarded.

FAIL

If a candidate fails the mini-dissertation outright, the Institute Board must make recommendations regarding a possible resubmission of the mini-dissertation after a lapse of 12 months and may also set additional requirements that the candidate must meet. The candidate must then receive personal attention from the study leader. The mini-dissertation must be dealt with as if it was a new submission. In this case the degree cannot be awarded with distinction.

Re-submission after the Recommended Period

If a recommendation is made that major changes are to be made and that the mini-dissertation must be resubmitted for examination after a period of time, the Institute Board must take the appropriate steps to ensure that all requirements as suggested by the examiners, are met. The Mini-dissertation must then be resubmitted to the original examiners for examination. In this case the degree cannot be awarded with distinction.

The candidate must submit to the Examinations Office at least five (5) typed duplicated or printed copies (no hand written copies will be accepted) of his/her mini-dissertation in a form acceptable to the Senate for examination purposes. More copies may be required if necessary. One of the copies must be unbound.

The following declaration must be signed by the candidate and be bound in the front of the mini-dissertation:

I declare that this mini-dissertation hereby submitted by me for the degree (MPM, MMM or MDM) at the University of Venda has not previously been submitted for a degree at this or any other university or institution and that it is my own work in design and in execution and that all reference material contained therein has been duly acknowledged.

PUBLICATION OF THE MINI-DISSERTATION
If a mini-dissertation is published in whole or in part, whether by the University or the candidate, it must be stated that the publication resulted from the mini-dissertation submitted for the Master’s degree at the University of Venda. Recognition must be given to both study leader and co-study leader, and candidate.

PREREQUISITES AND MODULE CODES

Development
Management DMS1541 See Rule M2*
DMS2541 DMS1541 & DMS1641
DMS2641 DMS1541 & DMS1641
DMS3541 DMS2541 & DMS2641
DMS3641 DMS2541 & DMS2641
Local Government LGA1541 See Rule M2*
Administration LGA1641 See Rule M2*
LGA2541 LGA1541 & LGA1641
LGA2641 LGA1541 & LGA1641

Public Administration PAD1541 See Rule M2*
PAD1641 See Rule M2*
PAD2541 PAD1541 & PAD1641
PAD2641 PAD1541 & PAD1641
PAD3541 PAD2541 & PAD2641
PAD3641 PAD2541 & PAD2641
PAD3542 PAD2541 & PAD2641
PAD3642 PAD2541 & PAD2641

MODULE CODES, TITLES AND CREDITS (currently under revision)

DMS1541 Development Studies I: Concept and Approaches & 12
Interdisciplinary Characteristics
DMS1641 Development Studies II: Context and Multidisciplinary 12
Development Constraints
DMS2541 Development Research Methodology, Philosophies & 15
Theories
DMS2641 Development Policy, Strategy, Project and Programme 15
Management
DMS3541 Community development, integrated rural and urban 15
development management
DMS3641 Science, technology, information for sustainable community, 15
rural and urban development
DMS5740 Research Methodology
DMS5741 Development Theories
DMS5742 Development Institutions and Governance
DMS5743 Selected Development Constraints
DMS5744 Community Development
DMS5745 Development Management
DMS5746 Contemporary Issues for Sustainable Development

LGA1541 Local Government: Concept, Political and Admin Context 12
LGA1641 Local Government: Structural and Functional Aspects 12
LGA2541 Development of South African Local Government 15
LGA2641 Functional Aspects and comparative Local Government 15

MDM6281 Central Issues and Contemporary Foci in Development Studies: Approaches, Strategies and Practice
MDM6282 Development Planning, Programming and Project Management
MDM6283 Urban/Rural Community Development Management and Planning
MDM6284 Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development Management
MDM6285 Domestic Issues in Development
MDM6286 Institutions in Development Management

MMM6281 Municipal Law
MMM6282 Provincial and Municipal Systems
MMM6283 Contemporary Municipal Government
MMM6284 Municipal Government and Reconstruction and Development Management MMM6285 Municipal Committee Management
MMM6286 Municipal Electoral Systems

MPM6200 Mini-Dissertation
MPM6281 The Legal Environment in Management
MPM6282 Organizational Development
MPM6283 Legislation, Conflict Management and Communication
MPM6284 International Relations
MPM6285 Theory and Practice of Governance
MPM6286 Gender and Equity Management

PAD1541 Introduction to Public Administration I: Concept and Context 12
PAD1641 Introduction to Public Administration II: The South African 12
Context
PAD2541 Policy-making, Organizing and Financing 15
PAD2641 Staffing, Determining Work Procedures and Control 15
PAD3541 Context of Management 15
PAD3641 Issues in National and International Public Administration 15
PAD3542 Selected topics in Public Administration 15
PAD3642 Capita Selecta on South African Public Administration 15
PAD5741 Administrative Theory and Practice
PAD5742 Financial Administration
PAD5743 Personnel Administration
PAD5744 Municipal Administration
PAD5745 Government Planning
PAD5746 International Administration
PAD5747 Comparative Public Administration
PAD5748 Administration of Development
PAD5749 Organizational Theory

PDM6181 Policy and Policy Analysis
PDM6182 Research Methodology
PDM6183 Financial Management
PDM6184 Personnel Management
PDM6185 Information Technology
PDM6186 Ethics and Accountability

Research focus and output

Currently there is no information on the research and publications.

The following is a list of staff members in the Department of Public and Development Administration.

Designation	Name	Contacts
Associate Professor	NJ Vermaak BA (Hons), MA (Rau), PhD (Unisa)	Tel: 015 962 8328
Associate Professor	MP Khwashaba BAdmin (Hons) (Univen), MAdmin(Unisa), PhD(Univen)	Tel: 015 962 8440
Lecturer	J Fourie BA (Hons) (RAU)	Tel: 015 962 8328
Lecturer	MM Nekhavhambe BAdmin (Hons) (Univen), MPA (Pret)	Tel: 015 962 8463
Lecturer	RS Nembudani BA (Unin), BA(Hons), MPM(Univen)	Tel: 015 962 8059
Junior Lecturer	TM Mabitsela BAdmin (Hons) (Unin)
Junior Lecturer	MT Silima BAdmin, Dipl in Pub Admin (Univen), Assessor Cert (ETDPSETA), BAdmin (Hon) (Unin)