<p>The birth of democracy in South Africa in 1994 not only meant the end of apartheid, but also served as the catalyst for community participation in the affairs of local government. Despite the creation of an enabling environment, i.e. the adoption of the concept of Developmental Local Government and Integrated Development Planning Framework to ensure the participation of communities, public participation remains contested today and still does not achieve its expected results. A range of problems besets public participation in governance and development planning. Accordingly, this thesis presents a case study of the barriers to meaningful public participation as well as exploration of the context and extent of public participation in Ward 28, Elsies River, Cape Town, South Africa. The investigation examined the link between public participation, development planning and service delivery. In order to achieve the stated aim, the researcher employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods including secondary analysis, observation, informal interviewing, focus group discussions as well as the administration of a structured questionnaire to various stakeholders. Based on the empirical results of this research, the study provides a number of developmental guidelines and public participation recommendations to enhance planning and service delivery, especially in poor communities.</p>

<p>The birth of democracy in South Africa in 1994 not only meant the end of apartheid, but also served as the catalyst for community participation in the affairs of local government. Despite the creation of an enabling environment, i.e. the adoption of the concept of Developmental Local Government and Integrated Development Planning Framework to ensure the participation of communities, public participation remains contested today and still does not achieve its expected results. A range of problems besets public participation in governance and development planning. Accordingly, this thesis presents a case study of the barriers to meaningful public participation as well as exploration of the context and extent of public participation in Ward 28, Elsies River, Cape Town, South Africa. The investigation examined the link between public participation, development planning and service delivery. In order to achieve the stated aim, the researcher employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods including secondary analysis, observation, informal interviewing, focus group discussions as well as the administration of a structured questionnaire to various stakeholders. Based on the empirical results of this research, the study provides a number of developmental guidelines and public participation recommendations to enhance planning and service delivery, especially in poor communities.</p>

Magister Artium - MA / The birth of democracy in South Africa in 1994 not only meant the end of apartheid, but also served as the catalyst for community participation in the affairs of local government. Despite the creation of an enabling environment, i.e. the adoption of the concept of Developmental Local Government and Integrated Development Planning Framework to ensure the participation of communities, public participation remains contested today and still does not achieve its expected results. A range of problems besets public participation in governance and development planning. Accordingly, this thesis presents a case study of the barriers to meaningful public participation as well as exploration of the context and extent of public participation in Ward 28, Elsies River, Cape Town, South Africa. The investigation examined the link between public participation, development planning and service delivery. In order to achieve the stated aim, the researcher employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods including secondary analysis, observation, informal interviewing, focus group discussions as well as the administration of a structured questionnaire to various stakeholders. Based on the empirical results of this research, the study provides a number of developmental guidelines and public participation recommendations to enhance planning and service delivery, especially in poor communities. / South Africa

Thesis (MEd) -- Stellenbosch University, 1997. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A sudy was undertaken to investigate the agogic need in deprived urban areas and the possible alleviation of the problem. To investigate the problem, a wide range of literature was consulted that consisted of educational projects, magazine articles, pamphlets and literature pertaining to community colleges. Interviews were conducted with different social workers, chairmen of different organisations, guidance teachers, clergy of different religions, community leaders and even a gang-leader. An empirical study of Elsies River community was conducted to determine the problems and shortcomings. The variety of problems experienced in the community, appears to be the symptoms of a more profound nature. Different organisations in the area that are actively busy in the combating of problems are also used as references. Attention is also given to life-long education, continuous education, informal education and distance education. Also noted is the fact that humans possess a certain yearning that should be addressed by educational accompaniment. This yearning must be acknowledged by the educationist in any educational programme and must be considered against the background of the realities of being human. If these yearnings are not considered, as well as the realities of being human, it can have dire consequences for a country and its people. In conclusion, more specific attention is paid to community colleges. Also noted will be recent educational reports and the proposals made in this regard. Specific attention was paid to the viability of the possibilities to establish a community college in Elsies River. It seems as if a community college can render a considerable contribution to the alleviation of the agogic need. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: n StudIe is onderneem om ondersoek in te stel na die agogiese nood in agterblewe stedelike gebiede en die moontlike verligting van die probleem. Om die probleem te ondersoek, is 'n wye spektrum van literatuur nagevors wat bestaan uit opvoedkundige werke, tydskrifartikels, pamflette en literatuur met betrekking tot Gemeenskapskolleges. Onderhoude is gevoer met maatskaplike werkers, voorsitters van verskillende organisasies, voorligtingsonderwysers, predikante, 'n Imam, gemeenskapsleiers en 'n Ieier van 'n bende. 'n Empiriese studie van Elsiesrivier se gemeenskap is gemaak om vas te stel wat die probleme en die tekortkominge daar is. Die verskeidenheid probleme wat in die gemeenskap ervaar word, blyk die simptome van dieperliggende probleme te wees. Ook word daar verwys na verskillende organisasies wat aktief besig in die omgewing is om van die probleme die hoof te bied. Ook word daar aandag geskenk aan lewenslange onderwys, voortgesette onderwys, nie-formele onderwys asook afstandsonderrig. Daar is ook rekening gehou met die feit dat die mens oor bepaalde hunkeringe beskik wat deur middel van opvoedkundige begeleiding aangespreek behoort te word en net so moet die opvoedkundige in enige opvoedkundige program rekening hou met bepaalde realiteite van menswees. Indien hierdie hunkeringe die realiteite van menswees nie in ag geneem word nie, kan dit vir 'n land met sy mense hul ondergang beteken. Ten slotte word daar spesifiek gekyk na Gemeenskapskolleges. Ook word daar gekyk na resente onderwysverslae en die voorstelle wat gemaak is ten opsigte van hierdie instelling. Daar word ook spesifiek gekyk na die moontlikhede vir die bestaan van so 'n Gemeenskapskollege in Elsiesrivier. Dit blyk dus dat die Gemeenskapkollege 'n aansienlike bydrae kan lewer tot die verligting van die agogiese nood.