Ethical leadership and accountability in reducing maladministration in South African Public Sector organisations: A systematic literature review

This study explores the interplay between ethical leadership, accountability, and maladministration in public organisations, focusing on how moral leadership principles can strengthen governance effectiveness. Using a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA 2020 protocol, the research analysed twenty peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 across multiple databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest. The thematic synthesis revealed that ethical leadership anchored in integrity, fairness, and empathy serves as a behavioural and institutional driver of accountability, reducing the prevalence of maladministration and corruption in the public sector. The findings indicated that accountability operates as a mediating mechanism linking ethical conduct to governance performance through oversight systems, ethical work climates, and transparent decision-making structures. The results also highlighted that ethical leaders foster trust, legitimacy, and responsible behaviour, creating cultures that deter misconduct and encourage compliance. Moreover, institutional frameworks such as independent audits, ethics training, and participatory governance were identified as critical enablers of sustained accountability. The study concludes that ethical leadership must transcend individual morality and become institutionalised within governance systems to achieve lasting reform. Recommendations include embedding ethics into leadership development, strengthening accountability frameworks, promoting citizen oversight, and leveraging technology for transparency. Overall, the study affirms that ethical leadership and accountability are interdependent pillars for combating maladministration and restoring public confidence in government institutions.