Text in Afrikaans / In this study the relationship between political decision making, spatial change and provision of selected municipal services was investigated. Legislation and policy, spatial demarcation and local government structures are determined by political decision making on various government levels. The international system as well as the local history and factors leading to spatial change impact on municipal demarcation and service delivery. Demographic change due to re-delimitation of boundaries, densification within the area of jurisdiction and immigration imply that service requirements change. In 1994/5, the rural and residential areas were incorporated to the former Verwoerdburg and formed the Southern Pretoria Metropolitan Substructure (Centurion). In December 2000 Centurion lost its autonomous status and was incorporated as administrative unit into the larger Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Restructuring have implications for the political representation of communities, the spatial extension of service networks, priority areas, and the location of service provision points. / In hierdie studie is die verband tussen politieke besluitneming, ruimtelike verandering en die lewering van geselekteerde munisipale dienste ondersoek. Wetgewing en beleid, ruimtelike afbakening en plaaslikeowerheidstrukture word deur politieke besluitneming op verskillende regeringsvlakke bepaal. Die internasionale sisteem, asook plaaslike historiese gebeure en aanleidende faktore tot ruimtelike verandering het 'n impak op beide munisipale afbakening en dienslewering. Demografiese verandering as gevolg van die herbepaling van grense, verdigting binne die regsgebied en immigrasie impliseer dat diensbehoeftes verander. Landelike en residensiele gebiede is in 1994/5 by die voormalige Verwoerdburg geinkorporeer om die Suidelike Pretoria Metropolitaanse Substruktuur (Centurion) te vorm. In Desember 2000 het die Stadsraad van Centurion sy outonome status verloor en is as administratiewe eenheid by die groter Tshwane Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit geinkorporeer. Herstrukturering het implikasies vir die politieke verteenwoordiging wat gemeenskappe geniet, die ruimtelike uitbreiding van diensnetwerke, prioriteitsgebiede en die plasing van dienstevoorsieningspunte. / Geography / M.A. (Geografie)

Text in Afrikaans / In this study the relationship between political decision making, spatial change and provision of selected municipal services was investigated. Legislation and policy, spatial demarcation and local government structures are determined by political decision making on various government levels. The international system as well as the local history and factors leading to spatial change impact on municipal demarcation and service delivery. Demographic change due to re-delimitation of boundaries, densification within the area of jurisdiction and immigration imply that service requirements change. In 1994/5, the rural and residential areas were incorporated to the former Verwoerdburg and formed the Southern Pretoria Metropolitan Substructure (Centurion). In December 2000 Centurion lost its autonomous status and was incorporated as administrative unit into the larger Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Restructuring have implications for the political representation of communities, the spatial extension of service networks, priority areas, and the location of service provision points. / In hierdie studie is die verband tussen politieke besluitneming, ruimtelike verandering en die lewering van geselekteerde munisipale dienste ondersoek. Wetgewing en beleid, ruimtelike afbakening en plaaslikeowerheidstrukture word deur politieke besluitneming op verskillende regeringsvlakke bepaal. Die internasionale sisteem, asook plaaslike historiese gebeure en aanleidende faktore tot ruimtelike verandering het 'n impak op beide munisipale afbakening en dienslewering. Demografiese verandering as gevolg van die herbepaling van grense, verdigting binne die regsgebied en immigrasie impliseer dat diensbehoeftes verander. Landelike en residensiele gebiede is in 1994/5 by die voormalige Verwoerdburg geinkorporeer om die Suidelike Pretoria Metropolitaanse Substruktuur (Centurion) te vorm. In Desember 2000 het die Stadsraad van Centurion sy outonome status verloor en is as administratiewe eenheid by die groter Tshwane Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit geinkorporeer. Herstrukturering het implikasies vir die politieke verteenwoordiging wat gemeenskappe geniet, die ruimtelike uitbreiding van diensnetwerke, prioriteitsgebiede en die plasing van dienstevoorsieningspunte. / Geography / M.A. (Geografie)