D.Com. (Business Administration) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Text in Afrikaans / The study is undertaken to determine the influence of the Co-ordinating Council on the co-ordination of local government policy. A simplified analytical model is used to determine the activities that are undertaken by the Co-ordinating Council. The Co-ordinating Council identifies needs from the external municipal environment which are used as inputs for the submission of recommendations to the Cabinet. As a result the Cabinet uses the recommendations to promulgate parliamentary legislation. Parliamentary legislation which is applicable to local government affairs, is then linked back to the external municipal environment and implemented. The success of the co-ordinating function of the Co-ordinating Council can be measured by the variety of parliamentary acts that have been promulgated as a result of the activities of said Council. / Die studie word onderneem om die invloed van die Koordinerende Raad op die koordinering van plaaslike owerheidsbeleid te bepaal. 'n Vereenvoudigde analitiese ontledingsmodel word gebruik om die werksaamhede van die Koordinerende Raad te bepaal. Die Koordinerende Raad identifiseer behoeftes, vanuit die eksterne munisipale omgewing, wat as toevoere aangewend word om aanbevelings aan die Kabinet voor te le. Die Kabinet gebruik die aanbevelings om parlementere wetgewing te promulgeer. Parlementere wetgewing wat op plaaslike owerheidsaangeleenthede betrekking het, word daarna na die eksterne munisipale omgewing teruggekoppel en geimplementeer. Die sukses van die koordineringsfunksie ·van die Koordinerende Raad kan gemeet word aan die verskeidenheid van parlementere wette wat reeds weens die werksaamhede van die bovermelde Raad tot stand gekom het. / Public Administration and Management / M.A. (Public Administration)

Text in Afrikaans / The study is undertaken to determine the influence of the Co-ordinating Council on the co-ordination of local government policy. A simplified analytical model is used to determine the activities that are undertaken by the Co-ordinating Council. The Co-ordinating Council identifies needs from the external municipal environment which are used as inputs for the submission of recommendations to the Cabinet. As a result the Cabinet uses the recommendations to promulgate parliamentary legislation. Parliamentary legislation which is applicable to local government affairs, is then linked back to the external municipal environment and implemented. The success of the co-ordinating function of the Co-ordinating Council can be measured by the variety of parliamentary acts that have been promulgated as a result of the activities of said Council. / Die studie word onderneem om die invloed van die Koordinerende Raad op die koordinering van plaaslike owerheidsbeleid te bepaal. 'n Vereenvoudigde analitiese ontledingsmodel word gebruik om die werksaamhede van die Koordinerende Raad te bepaal. Die Koordinerende Raad identifiseer behoeftes, vanuit die eksterne munisipale omgewing, wat as toevoere aangewend word om aanbevelings aan die Kabinet voor te le. Die Kabinet gebruik die aanbevelings om parlementere wetgewing te promulgeer. Parlementere wetgewing wat op plaaslike owerheidsaangeleenthede betrekking het, word daarna na die eksterne munisipale omgewing teruggekoppel en geimplementeer. Die sukses van die koordineringsfunksie ·van die Koordinerende Raad kan gemeet word aan die verskeidenheid van parlementere wette wat reeds weens die werksaamhede van die bovermelde Raad tot stand gekom het. / Public Administration and Management / M.A. (Public Administration)

D.Litt. et. Phil. (Public Management and Governance) / This study focused on a literary analysis to determine critical future considerations required to position the South African Local Government National Capacity Building Framework (NCBF) of 2011. The study addressed, inter alia, the research question: What is the nature and scope of the NCBF in local government and which priority interventions could be taken at an institutional level to promote the objectives of local government as constructed within the Constitution? Although the former Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG) (currently the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and its key stakeholders compiled the NCBF by 2004 and reviewed it in 2008, no study has yet been made of the effectiveness of the NCBF to coordinate support, capacity building and training initiatives aimed at local government to ensure that the necessary impact is achieved. Much attention has been given to individual capacity building in local government however, their inter-relatedness to institutional and environmental capacity is not sufficiently addressed to improve each municipality’s capacity. It is widely acknowledged that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach adopted by the national and provincial government to implement legislation in terms of the fiscal, functional and planning arrangements for local government, has not assisted municipalities with varying legacies and backgrounds to deliver uniformly on their mandates and obligation. This ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach does not take into consideration the impact of major integration challenges compounded by spatial differences between municipalities in terms of capacity to raise revenue and to deliver services. The lack of capacity in local government is a recurring theme as is the lack of coordination and the impact on the current initiatives. There is also not yet at least one set of capacity indicators against which to measure local government’s capacity. A qualitative research methodology was followed in general and a conceptual and theoretical analysis in particular. The thesis contributed to understanding of capacity building and related concepts, theories, approaches and phenomena that influence the capacity of local government to meet its objectives. The study included a detailed exploration of skills development within the realm of capacity building. It also contributed to a specific level of understanding of the variables influencing the institutional, regulatory and policy framework of the South African government system and legislation and related frameworks relevant to local government, support, capacity building and training. The study provided an integration of the determinants influencing a differentiated approach to support, capacity building and training in the local government sector and developed a model to measure support, capacity building and training at local government level, by developing measureable capacity indicators to optimally implement the NCBF of 2011 to 2016 in the long term.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African local government is undergoing a critical process of transformation and restructuring. New structures, institutions and systems which are being established change local government to accomplish the developmental objectives of the society, improve service delivery and ensure optimum governance. The study is aimed at investigating and examining the type of municipal structure that has the capacity to achieve the objectives of local government. In this regard, the status quo of municipalities in the KOSH (Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartebeesfontein) area, a metropolitan municipality without sub-councils and an amalgamated Category B Municipality operating in the area of jurisdiction of Category C Municipality is explored and critically examined. The hypothetical statement namely that the KOSH area requires a restructured, rekindled and revitalised municipal structure and the amalgamation of unviable municipalities into a larger jurisdiction to sustain development, are tested. A review of new structures and systems of local government in South Africa is made. In this regard the legal framework and context of the municipal demarcation process, structures and systems is of paramount importance. A critical analysis of all municipalities in the KOSH area including the Southern District Council in relation to their political and administrative components is made. The background and profile of each town and city in the KOSH area is also given. This encapsulates the historical background of the area, its economy and socio-demographic profile. In the final analysis the study highlights the positive and negative effects of amalgamated municipalities whether Category A or B Municipalities. The study concludes that the KOSH area lends itself to the establishment of an amalgamated Category B Municipality operating within the jurisdiction of a Category C Municipality. The study also concludes that it is possible and viable to de-establish the present separate local authorities and create a viable amalgamated Category B Municipal structure that will improve service delivery and provide optimum governance for the KOSH area. Specific recommendations in respect of the development of the KOSH area are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid Afrikaanse plaaslike regering ondergaan 'n kritieke proses van transformasie en herstrukturering. Nuwe strukture, instellings en sisteme wat geskep word verander plaaslike regering ten einde die ontwikkelingsoogmerke van die gemeenskap te bereik, dienslewering te verbeter en om optimum regering daar te stel. Die studie is gemik op die ondersoek en ontleding van die soort munisipale strukture wat in staat is om die bogemelde oogmerke te bereik. In hierdie verband, word die status quo van munisipaliteite in die KOSH (Klersksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and Hartebeesfontein) gebied, 'n metropolitaanse munisipaliteit sonder sub-rade, en 'n geamalgemeerde kategorie B munisipaliteit wat in die jurisdiksionele gebied van 'n kategorie C munisipaliteite funksioneel ondersoek en krities ontleed. Die hipotese naamlik dat die KOSH gebied 'n gestruktureerde, munisipale struktuur benodig sowel as die amalgamering van nie-lewensvatbare munisipaliteite in 'n groter jurisdiksie om ontwikkeling te handhaaf, word ondersoek. 'n Oorsig word gegee van die nuwe strukture en sisteme van plaaslike regering in Suid Afrika. In hierdie vervand is die regsraamwerk en die konteks van die munisipale afbakeningsproses, strukture en sisteme van kardinale belang. 'n Kritiese ontleding van al die munisipaliteite in die KOSH gebied, insluitende die Suidelike Distriksraad, uitsluitende hul politieke en administratiewe samestelling, is gemaak. Die agtergrond en die profiel van elke dorp en stad in die KOSH gebied work ook weergegee. Dit sluit in die geskiedkundige agtergrond van die gebied, asook die gebied se ekonomie en sosiodemografiese profiel. In die finale ontleding beklemtoon die studie die voor-en nadele van geamalgameerde munisipaliteite, ongeag of hulle kategorie A of B munisipaliteite is. Die studie toon aan dat die KOSH gebied homself leen tot die skepping van 'n ge-amalgameerde kategorie B munisipaliteit wat binne die jurisdiksie van 'n kategorie C munisipaliteit opereer. Die studie het ook aangetoon dat dit moontlik en haalbaar is om die bestaande aparte plaaslike owerhede te hervestig en 'n haalbaar kategorie B munisipale struktuur daar te stel wat dienslewering sal bevorder en optimum regering vir die KOSH gebied daar sal stel. Spesifieke aanbevelings word gemaak met betrekking tot die ontwikkeling van die KOSH gebied.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (DPhil (Public Administration))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / unrestricted

M. Tech. Business Administration / Since 1994, South African local government has undergone significant financial reforms. Recently reform implementation has been focused on the budgeting and financial affairs of municipalities with the promulgation of the Municipal Budget and Reporting Regulations. Objectives included the modernisation of the financial planning and budgeting processes of municipalities in achieving higher levels of accountability, transparency, and appropriate lines of responsibility within the local government accountability cycle. Among other dimensions of financial planning, this reform introduced cash flow forecasting as a management tool in ensuring the budget is appropriately funded, resulting in implementation as planned. Notwithstanding these objectives, municipalities continuously face cash and liquidity challenges questioning the effectiveness of these reform efforts. The methodology incorporated a variance analysis of the budget as planned versus implementation, and a performance 'trend' instrument similar to a Likert scale for comparing municipal performance of six metropolitan municipalities. A general questionnaire was circulated to municipal finance practitioners in testing their opinion and attitude towards cash flow forecasting. The research is concluded with a structured interview with chief financial officers. The research finds that, although improvements can be observed, they have been at a slow and low-key pace owing to capacity limitations, an instrumentalist approach to reform implementation and the significant rate of change associated with the reform roadmap.

M.Tech. Business Administration. Business School. / The study attempts to identify and quantify factors that affect service delivery by local government counselors in Gauteng and North-West provinces. The study showed that overall satisfaction with the quality of services provided at the two sites of study (Tshwane District and Madibeng municipalities) was influenced by similar factors based on results obtained from data analysis. This shows that there was no significant difference between residents of Tshwane District and Madigeng municipalities with regards to expectations from service providers and elected officials who are responsible for the delivery of municipal services.

M.Com. (Business Management) / The Central Government's White Paper on Privatisation proved to a be a major stimulation to privatisation. The possibility exists that privatisation can be applied effectively to local government. This research was initiated to investigate the possibility. The research comprises literature research, covering a vast applicable area. Sources dealing with privatisation particularly in local government, were reviewed. Firstly the study was concentrated on the United Kingdom, known to be the origin of privatisation. The United States of America boasts the most comprehensive application of privatisation, particularly at local government level, therefore extensive sources from this country were reviewed. On the South African scene the White Paper, the Syncom Privatisation Position Paper on privatisation at local authorities, as well as numerous local publications, periodical and newspaper articles were reviewed. The following hypothesis was stated: 'That there are innumerable possibilities of privatisation at local government level' Consequently the possibilities of privatisation at the Vanderbijlpark Municipality were studied. In this regard research was done on Council reports and information was gathered personally from heads of departments and senior officials. From this information a schedule was composed to categorise tasks in what technically cannot be privatised, what technically can be privatised but preferably should not and what can be privatised. Tasks already privatised, are pointed out...

M.A. (History) / Please refer to full text to view abstract