Leaders in public sector departments in South Africa operate in an environment that is different
from that in which private sector departments operate. They also have an array of challenges,
but still they are expected to perform and deliver a public service that makes a positive
contribution to the lives of the people that that they lead as well as the lives of the citizens they
provide the service to. With the service delivery protests and the outcry from the South African
public for public leaders to become more accountable and effective, the researcher became
interested in the effect that leadership may or may not have on the performance of an
organisation.