The link between sustainability and the planning process has been legislated and polices applied but the practical rhetoric and implementation thereof remains problematic (Oranje & Van Huyssteen, 2004 and Owens, 1994). An integral part of that link is the ability of the planning process to provide for public involvement. However within institutionalized planning processes the dominance of “experts” (scientific based) in the process allows for an exclusionary debate with regard to local issues (Eden, 1996). This research explored the ability of the local legislated integrated development planning (IDP) process as a tool through which the implementation of sustainability could be fostered. It specifically explored the discourse of knowledge (scientific, counter scientific and non scientific) as a construct in implementing deliberative public participation for sustainability. The qualitative approach utilized in this study employed multiple research methodologies through the utilization of the Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) IDP process as a case study. This research report shows that while the IDP is a technical process paying little attention to other knowledge’s, it does have some potential as a framework that can aid in the implementation of sustainable participation through its ability to empower communities and foster community led development through ownership of this local process.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In various formulations, the idea of a developmental state has appeared in official discourse in South Africa since the advent of democratic government in 1994, albeit that its adoption as state policy has been slow, uneven and inconsistent with the original East Asian model. What has been a feature of developmental state thinking in South Africa is the fact that the concept has been so poorly articulated in policy that it has come to mean different things to different state actors and to the public. This has been aggravated by the fact that the idea of a strongly interventionist developmental state has run counter to the idea of a diminished state enunciated in various neo-liberal policies. Moreover, unlike the authoritarian and top-down East Asian model, the government envisages a South African developmental state which is infused with democratic content where citizens assist in the formulation of policy from below. In its emphasis on a bottom-up approach to policy formulation the South African model differs markedly from the conventional idea of a developmental state which is heavily reliant on a strong central bureaucracy to drive economic growth. In the South African model local government has been assigned a pivotal role in addressing persistent economic exclusion and uneven development. A central tenet of this approach is the need for local authorities to institutionalise participatory processes at grassroots level and devise effective structures and processes to facilitate citizen participation in local affairs. In the light of the above, this thesis sets out to examine the manner in which a system of developmental local government is being implemented in the City of Cape Town. Taking as a case study the township of Delft, the study looks at the systems and processes (and particularly the process of integrated development planning) set in place to advance citizen participation. It examines the extent to which the model is perceived to be achieving its goals from the perspective of political office bearers, officials from different spheres of government and residents. The research found that notwithstanding an enabling legislative and policy framework, there is little comprehension of, or interest, in the idea of developmental local government and municipal officials largely pay lip service to participatory processes which are carried out in a top-down fashion and which neither empower local residents nor enhance their welfare. It also concluded that developmental government, in its present form, is contributing little to the establishment of a national developmental state.

The research focuses on the effectiveness of the integrated development planning (IDP) as a tool to accelerated service delivery: A case study of Aganang Local Municipality. The main problem investigated in the research is that the community of Aganang Local municipality does not have adequate services. The objective of the research is to investigate the integrated development planning process's impact on service delivery, to investigate if the budget is aligned to the IDP and to make possible recommendations on how the IDP could accelerate and improve service delivery. The hypothesis of the research centres on the acceleration of service delivery by implementing the IDP. Change in integration and cooperation in municipalities can be met if the management, process, systems, culture and innovation are improved. Qualitative and quantitative data was used in this research; the primary sources include questionnaires and interviews while the secondary sources include books, journals and reports. The findings revealed that Aganang local municipality has limited capacity in terms of human and financial resources; the municipality should have a retention and succession policy to ensure that the skills in the municipality are retained. The research also revealed that most people in the municipal area are illiterate and have insufficient skills. The study also revealed that the sector departments do not ensure that municipal strategies take cognisance of provincial strategies during the strategic sessions. The study also revealed that the budgets are only done per financial year and not on a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTERF) basis (3-year plan) and are not properly aligned to the IDP. The research recommends that municipalities should strengthen the inter-governmental relations to ensure alignment and integration both horizontally and vertically. The research also recommends that the municipality should build capacity and develop skills in the community. The study also recommends adopt the cluster planning and implementation including forward planning to ensure that there is maximum resource allocation and shared functions. The study also recommends that the budget should be on a three-year basis to allow for proper project planning. / Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Despite stipulations in local government legislation that Municipalities should build the capacity of the local communities to enable effective public participation and to foster community participation in local government, little is known on how municipalities capacitate their people staying in the rural areas to participate effectively in the IDP process. This research study investigated, explored and analyzed capacity building programmes used by Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality to capacitate its people staying in the rural areas to participate effectively in the IDP process. The study was conducted through qualitative interviews with officials working and people living in two rural wards. An analysis of the interviews yields that Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality does not have a capacity building policy or strategy for promoting effective participation of people in the IDP process. The capacity building programmes used by the municipality are more focused on ward committees, ward councilors and project steering committee members than on traditional leaders, small businesses and other people staying in the rural areas. The municipality has planned training programmes for ward committees, ward councilors and project steering committee members and none for other people. Information sharing is done through ward committees, municipality and council meetings for all categories of citizens. People who practise subsistence farming are capacitated through agricultural research based interventions. Skills development programmes are used to enhance participation of project steering committee members in monitoring the implementation of IDP projects. The capacity building programmes are effective in making people aware of structures they can use to participate in the IDP process and to participate during IDP project implementation and to a minimal extent enhances people’s participation in monitoring the implementation of IDP projects. The Municipality’s capacity building programmes enhances people’s skills to participate effectively during implementation of IDP projects and not in the decision making during analysis, strategies and approval phases of the IDP process.

This study has assessed the role of public participation in effective and efficient local governance at two local municipalities of Elias Motswaledi and Steve Tshwete in South Africa. Public participation is a pillar of development and therefore important to assess the successes and failures thereof. Government invest huge resources to deliver public service to their citizens and it is through public participation that the beneficiaries of these services can be guaranteed public service’ quality and responsiveness. Interviews with key informants in local government and focus groups provided a better understanding of the situation in the two case study areas. Elias Motswaledi has provided a classical challenge of public participation with the reluctance of the community to participate in the development processes and also with projects that do not benefit the majority of the residents; whereas at Steve Tshwete the community is actively engaged in major decision making processes and have also assisted the council in delivering relevant projects and programmes that are responsive to the community needs. The study found that the government has to relook: 1. the relationship between ward committees and community development workers as this was found to be the major contributing factor to poor levels of public participation. 2. There is an urgent need for building capacity for both local communities and ward communities to enable them to effectively participate in developmental processes that affect them. The study also showed how poor public participation initiatives have negatively affected service delivery and development initiatives at local levels in South Africa. This comparative case study maybe useful in shedding some insight in addressing public participation in local government to overcome the relatively weak or low municipal capacity across South Africa.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo / In this study the researcher wanted to disclose the problems undermining the role and effectiveness of IDP for service delivery in the Vhembe District Municipality. The study succeeded in investigating the role and effectiveness of IDP on service delivery in Vhembe District Municipality. The research questions: “is there a role and effectiveness of the Integrated Development Planning in Vhembe District Municipality on service delivery?” and “is there a significant improvement of municipal services since the introduction of the IDP process in the year 2000?” and finally, “Is the IDP of Vhembe District Municipality Linked to the Budget?” were interrogated. The specific objectives of the study which include “investigating how the IDP impacts on service delivery” were outlined. The study also endeavoured to satisfy the second objective by suggesting possible solutions as to how the IDPs could be strengthened to address service delivery constraints and challenges. The research also looked at the historical background of Integrated Development Planning. In doing so, the research looked at the development planning evolution in South Africa. Policy and Legislative Framework governing the formulation and implementation of the IDP in South Africa were also considered. The study strove to outline the problems and other dynamics associated with linkage of the IDP to the budgeting process. Public participation and the role of provincial and national government departments in the IDP were also looked into. Three methods of data collection were identified for use in this study, namely: unstructured interviews, participant observation and documentation. The population for the study comprised the stakeholders for IDP. This was divided into government officials and members of community. Purposive sampling was conducted to each group of the population. The researcher presented data in an explanatory way. The main problem identified on the role and effectiveness of the IDP is its lack of alignment with the budget of the municipality. Recommendations were made at the end of the study.

Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Post apartheid planning practice aims to resolve the inequality that resulted from the hyperrational comprehensive model of planning executed during apartheid via a participatory, integrated approach. The Integrated Development Planning model was created to manifest the goals of social and spatial equality while taking into account principles set forth in Agenda 21. This thesis attempted to determine the relevance of the present planning model in achieving the stated goals of social equity and environmental sustainability, within the Dwars River Valley, Stellenbosch Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. Utilizing 54 qualitative-based interviews with key stakeholders, results indicate that historically based realities on the ground and ideals of more equitable and sustainable spatial architecture is profoundly challenging. Despite this, the organic emergence of unique coalitions provides evidence that positive change occurs daily and outcomes can only be measured with time.

Post apartheid planning practice aims to resolve the inequality that resulted from the hyperrational comprehensive model of planning executed during apartheid via a participatory, integrated approach. The Integrated Development Planning model was created to manifest the goals of social and spatial equality while taking into account principles set forth in Agenda 21. This thesis attempted to determine the relevance of the present planning model in achieving the stated goals of social equity and environmental sustainability, within the Dwars River Valley, Stellenbosch Municipality, Western Cape, South Africa. Utilizing 54 qualitative-based interviews with key stakeholders, results indicate that historically based realities on the ground and ideals of more equitable and sustainable spatial architecture is profoundly challenging. Despite this, the organic emergence of unique coalitions provides evidence that positive change occurs daily and outcomes can only be measured with time.

The research focuses on the effectiveness of the integrated development planning (IDP) as a tool to accelerated service delivery: A case study of Aganang Local Municipality. The main problem investigated in the research is that the community of Aganang Local municipality does not have adequate services. The objective of the research is to investigate the integrated development planning process's impact on service delivery, to investigate if the budget is aligned to the IDP and to make possible recommendations on how the IDP could accelerate and improve service delivery. The hypothesis of the research centres on the acceleration of service delivery by implementing the IDP. Change in integration and cooperation in municipalities can be met if the management, process, systems, culture and innovation are improved. Qualitative and quantitative data was used in this research; the primary sources include questionnaires and interviews while the secondary sources include books, journals and reports. The findings revealed that Aganang local municipality has limited capacity in terms of human and financial resources; the municipality should have a retention and succession policy to ensure that the skills in the municipality are retained. The research also revealed that most people in the municipal area are illiterate and have insufficient skills. The study also revealed that the sector departments do not ensure that municipal strategies take cognisance of provincial strategies during the strategic sessions. The study also revealed that the budgets are only done per financial year and not on a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTERF) basis (3-year plan) and are not properly aligned to the IDP. The research recommends that municipalities should strengthen the inter-governmental relations to ensure alignment and integration both horizontally and vertically. The research also recommends that the municipality should build capacity and develop skills in the community. The study also recommends adopt the cluster planning and implementation including forward planning to ensure that there is maximum resource allocation and shared functions. The study also recommends that the budget should be on a three-year basis to allow for proper project planning. / Thesis (M.Art. et Scien. (Town and Regional Planning))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.