Kroukamp, Hendri2018-10-122018-10-122000Kroukamp, H. (2000). Decentralisation or recentralisation: international lessons for South Africa. Acta Academica, 32(3), 85-106.0587-2405 (print)2415-0479 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/9378English: Decentralisation is seen as an approach that will enhance the quality and the effectiveness of public administration. However, although in the recent decades developed and developing countries have shown this tendency towards decentralisation, the present inditacions are that some governments are retracting these efforts and prudent steps are being taken towards recentralisation. What was regarded as the major advantages of decentralisation are nowadays disputed issues. In this article decentralisation as applied in South Africa will be evaluated in the light of international tendencies and recommendations made regarding prerequisites for an effective decentralised system of governance.Afrikaans: Desentralisering word as 'n benadering gesien wat die kwaliteit en doeltreffendheid van publieke administrasie sal bevorder. Alhoewel ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende state gedurende die afgelope dekades 'n geneigdheid tot desentralisasie getoon het, is daar egter aanduidings dat bepaalde regerings teen die tendens draai en terugbeweeg na resentralisasie. Wat aanvanklik as voordele van desentralisasie gesien is, word tans bevraagteken. In die artikel word desentralisasie soos die in Suid-Afrika toegepas word, aan die hand van internasionale tendense geevalueer en aanbevelings gemaak rakende die voorvereistes vir 'n effektiewe en doeltreffende gedesentraliseerde regeringstelsel.enDecentralisationRecentralisationSouth AfricaGovernanceArticleUniversity of the Free State