South AfricaZA

Article 195 of the Constitution of South Africa

Article
195
Chapter
CHAPTER 10 — PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Index row title
(1) Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles
Source document
The South Africa Constitution
Provision ID
89042b08-a761-4b33-9329-8c5ac5908db5

250 words

Verbatim text

enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles: (a) A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. (b) Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. (c) Public administration must be development-oriented. (d) Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias. (e) People’s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy-making. (f) Public administration must be accountable. (g) Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information. (h) Good human-resource management and career-development practices, to maximise human potential, must be cultivated. (i) Public administration must be broadly representative of the South African people, with employment and personnel management practices based on ability, objectivity, fairness, and the need to redress the imbalances of the past to achieve broad representation. (2) The above principles apply to— (a) administration in every sphere of government; (b) organs of state; and (c) public enterprises. (3) National legislation must ensure the promotion of the values and principles listed in subsection (1). (4) The appointment in public administration of a number of persons on policy considerations is not precluded, but national legislation must regulate these appointments in the public service. (5) Legislation regulating public administration may differentiate between different sectors, administrations or institutions. Chapter 10: Public Administration 100 (6) The nature and functions of different sectors, administrations or institutions of public administration are relevant factors to be taken into account in legislation regulating public administration. Public Service Commission

What this means

  • The index files this text under article 195 of the Constitution of South Africa.
  • The index files it under the chapter heading “CHAPTER 10 — PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION”.
  • The passage runs to about 250 words.
  • Read plainly, it mentions freedom of expression — it protects speaking, writing, publishing or holding an opinion (the words used: “impartially”).

The row’s stored title is a body fragment, not a heading (“(1) Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles”), so it is not used as the provision’s title here.

The index gives this passage an article number but stores a body fragment where a heading would be, so the number could not be cross-checked against the text. Check it against the official Constitution before relying on it in a citation.

This is a mechanical reading aid generated from the text above by matching words in it. It is not legal advice, not a lawyer’s interpretation, and not a substitute for the provision itself.

How to cite this

Constitution of South Africa, article 195, Portable Lawyer, https://www.portablelawyer.app/provision/89042b08-a761-4b33-9329-8c5ac5908db5 (accessed 25 October 2026).

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Accessed 25 October 2026.

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