MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute for Government and Policy Studies

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / i This study focused on the challenges faced by Developmental Local Government in South Africa with specific reference to the Capricorn District Municipality. Local government in South Africa has undergone significant and far-reaching changes. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 stipulates that local government is no longer expected to render basic services only, but also to serve as an agent of development. Mixed research method was used to obtain a picture on the challenges facing developmental local government. Mixed research method made use of qualitative and quantitative research methodology. Quantitative research methodology in this study was used because it enabled the researcher to test relationships, describe and examine cause and effect relations. Qualitative research methodology was used because it covers issues in great depth and detail and allows for the ability to interact with research subjects. For this study, the researcher used a non-probability sampling and its subtype purposive or judgmental sampling method to select the respondents of the study. The reason for using purposive sampling method was to produce a sample that can logically be assumed as representatives of the population.Two data analysis methods where used, that is thematic analysis and statistical analysis. Data collected through questionnaire will be analyzed using a computer program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 22.0. The findings of the study are:  With regards to the importance of developmental local government the findings revealed that developmental local government was important in that it had ensured effective service delivery.  With regards to the challenges facing developmental local government the study findings revealed that there were indeed challenges with regards to developmental local government. These challenges ranged from lack of understanding of the way local government operates, political differences amongst political parties and failure to implement local economic development policies.  The study findings revealed that the municipality has no stable financial resources to be able to sustain service delivery without national government support. It was further revealed that the municipality has a shortage of relevant critical skills and quality human resources with the required technical and managerial competence to ensure quality service delivery at the local government sphere.  The findings on the strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges of developmental local government revealed that communities need to be educated on the meaning and importance of developmental local government. v The recommendations of the study are:  The researcher recommends that for the communities to be fully aware of the new mandate of developmental local government there is need for Capricorn District municipality to embark on community awareness program to inform people on the importance of developmental local government.  Alternative service delivery methods should be pursued by the Capricorn District Municipality to reduce pressure on the available resources. Services should not be provided through traditional methods only.  It is recommended that the municipality need to improve on local participatory governance. Capricorn District Municipality must secure greater participation by residents in matters of governance. Participation will assist in communities to have an understanding of the way local government operates.  The researcher also recommends that municipal capacity building should be prioritized by the municipality. As a way of mitigating the challenges of critical skills shortages the researcher recommended that relevant municipal officials should attend service excellence training courses.  The researcher recommends that education on the meaning of developmental local government can enhance the performance of Capricorn district municipality

PhD (Public and Development Administration) / Department of Public and Development Administration / The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of unethical behaviour in the South African municipalities. Municipalities are responsible for providing services such as maintenance of local roads, refuse removals, water supply and sanitation, amongst others. However municipalities’ unethical behaviour have produced many disadvantages for themselves and the society at large. Effective and efficient service delivery is negatively affected by unethical behaviour resulting in the waste of government millions of rands each year, money that could have been spent on delivering services. The fact that there is unethical behaviour in municipalities can be interpreted as a total absence of ethical culture in the behaviour of municipal officials. Municipal officials are encouraged to uphold moral principles such as impartiality, accountability and trustworthy while performing their official duties. Given this background, the research project attempted to provide explanations for the patterns of unethical conduct and also pointed out strategies that could be employed to curb unethical behaviour in municipalities. For the purpose of this study, the researcher employed both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The researcher used purposive sampling to select respondents of the study. Two (2) instruments were used to collect data, namely, questionnaires and interviews. To analyse data, two types of data analysis were used. For data collected through questionnaires, the researcher used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences to analyse data. Data collected through interviews were analysed through the use of thematic analysis in the form of narrative. The study revealed specific unethical behaviour that were prevalent at Vhembe District Municipality. The study indicated that senior municipal officials must ensure that ethics initiatives systems and programmes should be put in place so that conducive ethical environment is created. The results indicated that despite challenges, employed strategies provided desired results. Specific solutions such improving employment practices and procurement activities were recommended that could improve ethical standards in the municipalities. / NRF

PhD (African Studies) / Department of Development Studies / Protests for basic services in South Africa are a relatively new phenomenon. Noticeably, they now happen almost on a daily basis. The manner in which they manifest is at times worrisome. Under the new political dispensation after 1994, South Africa has seen an unprecedented mushrooming of protests for services. Like other provinces across the country, Mpumalanga Province was also hit by the protests for services between 2004 and 2010. Since 2008, Gert Sibande District Municipality has experienced more intensified protests for service delivery, wherein communities were mobilized and marched to various local municipalities demanding improved services by these municipalities. The study aimed to establish some of the sources of these protests, their trends and their impact with the view to propose some solutions. To achieve this goal, the study used document analysis and empirical data obtained through interviews. Firstly, the study provides a historical background and overview of the three municipalities which fall under Gert Sibande District Municipality, namely: Msukaligwa, Mkhondo and Dr. Pixley Ka Isaka Seme. It further investigates the causes of violent protests for services in these municipalities. Attention is given to various pieces of legislation that establishes Local Government in South Africa. The socio-economic conditions of the three municipalities are also examined. The key findings from the interviews that were conducted pointed out factors that gave rise to the violent protests at the three municipalities. Amongst them was that the protests were politically motivated. Some were caused by lack of resource allocation and lack of human capacity to deliver services, lack of the political will by both the political and government representatives to deliver on their mandate, as well as the criminal elements that hijacked the protests. It is the mandate of government to deliver quality services to the people uninterrupted as prescribed by the Constitution. This will minimise the ongoing protest for services in the country. / NRF

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The purpose of this study was to investigate municipal-citizen communication channels of the Thulamela Local Municipality, and their implications on service delivery. The study adopted a mixed method, qualitative-quantitative sequential approach. Qualitative data was sourced from key-informants comprised of community leaders, Ward Committee members, and a Community Development Workers. Quantitative data was sourced from ordinary community members of Dumasi village. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used as data collection tools for both the qualitative and quantitative phases. Thematic Content Analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Data analysis for the quantitative data was conducted using Cronbach’s Alpha, t-test and ANOVA test. The findings from both studies revealed that respondents perceived Thulamela Municipality’s communication channels to be ineffective. Community members’ reluctance to attend community meetings and lack of proper feedback were identified as the main causes. The findings further revealed that ineffectiveness of the communication channels leads to an increase in the number of community service delivery protests. Several suggestions are made resulting from the findings of this study. These include the designing and implementation of context-specific, municipal-citizen communication channels, in consultation with local communities.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The purpose of the study was to investigate citizens’ level of trust in service delivery in Makhado Municipality by assessing the relationship between the performance of local government and the level of trust of citizens in the Municipality. In addition, the study sought to establish whether citizens’ involvement in decision-making in local government has an effect on their level of trust; and to establish the approaches which are important to improve citizens’ trust in local government. Data was collected through a questionnaire which was administered to 100 residents of Makhado Municipality. The findings of the study revealed that the citizens of Makhado Municipality do not trust in the service delivery in the Municipality. Residents are dissatisfied with most of the services they are receiving from the Municipality. It was determined that water shortage is the biggest problem in the Municipality, and residents spend days without water which poses serious risks to their health. Housing provision is another area that residents are displeased with. There is no transparency in the allocation of RDP houses, nepotism and corruption are rife and the quality of these houses is also poor. The area of roads and storm water supply is also of concern. Roads and streets in the municipality are in a bad state with potholes everywhere. Some roads and streets that were tarred have been turned into gravel roads, gravel roads in villages are also in a bad state of disrepair because they are not consistently maintained. The findings further revealed that service delivery challenges in the Municipality are caused by a lack of consultation and leadership, as well as corruption and if these three factors are addressed, service delivery will improve and trust would be fostered amongst citizens. This study recommends that the Municipality should develop its own anti-corruption strategies; invest in research and form partnerships with tertiary institutions; improve public participation and consultation; and collaborate with other government departments. Unfortunately, the research findings cannot be generalised to other municipalities since they differ in terms of categories and responsibilities. Nonetheless, some ideologies of the recommendations can be applied to other municipalities.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The study investigated the effectiveness of intergovernmental relations in improving service delivery in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. Literature argue that despite the relationship between the three spheres of government, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) does not always promote the constitutional objectives of cooperative governance which impacts on how socio-economic rights such as the provision of adequate housing are implemented. The study was conducted under the premise of quantitative methodology. A purposive sample of 42 respondents was used representing different department/sections/subsections of the Municipality, namely; Office of the Mayor, Office of the Municipal Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Town Planning and Economic Planning, and Cooperate Office. The outcome pointed out that the majority of participants agreed that the IGR framework and other legislation governing the IGR process to enhance service delivery were not fully known and understood to them. The results of the study revealed that there are no structures or forums in place to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations and provide for appropriate mechanisms to ensure an improved service delivery. Some of the recommendations of the study include appointment of the IGR practitioner, that the TLM should embark on community programmes to inform people on the importance of IGR in developing the Municipality.

Thesis (MBA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Local government is seriously affecting governance due to lack of leadership, management, technical skills and knowledge within government. Shortage of skills is a continuous challenge at district level and in skills development activities despite considerable expenditure on skills development. The district officials are compromised because human resource development directorates have poorly planned effective training. The Local Government Municipal Systems Act (South Africa, 2000) relating to municipalities state that staff development is important for effectiveness and efficiency in compliance with legislation and enabling the performance of functions. The above challenges have stimulated the researcher to embark on this research. The study was aimed to investigate the importance of managerial skills in the implementation of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant in Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province.The study determined the managerial skills possessed by officials, attempted to understand how the officials in Mopani District Municipality manage the implementation of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant. The study further explored training programmes that can equip municipal officials with managerial skills. Mopani District Municipality has a mandate as the local government to service communities. National Treasury funds the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant; usage of the grant must be accounted for, regulations and frameworks guide its implementation. An overview of Water Infrastructure development by the Deputy Director-General NWRI from the Department of Water Affairs, shows that there are 27 District including MDM that are allocated the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant for the new infrastructure development, refurbishment, for the ageing infrastructure to be upgraded and replaced and extensive areas across municipal boundaries to be serviced. The Department of Water Affairs report indicates that due to delays in the procurement of material, engineering new appointments and other services, projects for 2017/18 financial year in Limpopo province have been delayed to the 2018/19 financial year. The research approach that was used in this study is qualitative research because it enables the researcher to critically investigate the importance of managerial skills in the implementation of the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant in Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province. The study employed both interviews and questionnaires for data collection. The interview was done at Mopani District Municipality and Mopani Community (Beneficiary) were given semi-structured questionnaires. The findings reveal that officials in Mopani District Municipality do not possess business skills. The officials that are trained received either traditional or competencybased training and do not possess managerial skills for implementation of RBIG. The study further noted that Mopani District Municipality is no longer an implementing agent due to the challenges the district encountered. The project had challenges that made the project not being completed within a stipulated period which was 2018. The Department of Water Affairs appointed Lepelle Northern Water as RBIG implementing agents due to the above challenges. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made to Mopani District Municipality officials: • The district Human Resource Development office must afford officials training prior to being appointed. The HRD must conduct a skills audit to be able to know which officials need skills development. • Department of Water Affairs, Lepelle Northern Water and Mopani District Municipality must forge good intergovernmental relations ensuring that end service is delivered to residents. • Mopani District Municipality must partner with the University of Limpopo, University of Venda, Tshwane University of Technology, University of South Africa and so forth for providing effective traditional training.

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The aim of this study was to assess the impact and the effect of non–payment of municipal services on service delivery in the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. The municipalities as the lowest part of Government are responsible for delivering basic services like water supply, electricity, road maintenance, refuse collection and sanitation to communities. Legislation permits municipalities to charge for services rendered. The study adopted the qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection and analysis. Households in the selected villages (Motetema, Tambo and Groblersdal), were randomly selected to participate in the study and also the officials from the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. Non-payment of municipal services is a great challenge in South African local government and threaten the financial viability and proper service delivery. Communities are protesting daily in service delivery outcries. The municipalities are struggling to collect revenue; they basically depend on the grants from the national Treasury. This dissertation probes the nature of non-payment of municipal services, its impact on service delivery and the methods used to tackle non-payments and to recommend the workable solutions. The findings of this study reveal that indeed revenue collection and non-payment of municipal service charges is a challenge in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality and it is having a dire impact on effective service delivery. This is due to unwillingness to pay for service charges, unemployment, poor quality services, low income amongst other challenges. Thus, the municipality is unable to generate adequate revenue to deliver better services. The study, therefore, gives recommendations on how the Municipality can improve revenue collection and mitigate non-payment of service charges

This study arises from a preliminary environmental impact assessment of a proposal by the Natal Parks Board to develop a 200 bed ecotourism facility at Cathedral Peak in the Natal Drakensberg Park. The author of this study was one of a team of five postgraduate students1 from the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science at the University of Cape Town, hereafter referred to as the Masters Group, commissioned to undertake this assessment by the Natal Parks Board (NPB) in January 1995. The preliminary environmental assessment included a scoping exercise to identify all Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs), as well as a socio-economic survey to identify potential positive and negative impacts of the proposed development on neighbouring communities. In addition, this social investigation served to identify opportunities for community involvement in the project, both in the construction and post-construction phases. The complete terms of reference for this preliminary environmental assessment are contained in Attachment 1.