Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae: Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / South Africa can be seen as one of the most advanced democracies on the African continent. Its 1996 constitution and state institutions were developed to enable a representative, deliberative and participative democracy. The legislature is predominant and public participation is expected like the element that legitimates the institutions of the state, their decisions and their initiatives. However, despite the use of ICTs to enhance the process of public participation, there remain profound misunderstandings between the government and its communities; expressed in demonstrations, strikes and other violent protests, as dissatisfaction in public service delivery grows and confidence in the government declines. The problem is that it seems that the potential of ICTs to better the processes of public participation is not fully understood and not fully realised. The aim of the study was to seek out elements helping and hindering the use of Mobile, Web and Social media in public participation in the city of Cape Town. This research endeavour falls under eParticipation research. It considers consultation for law and policy making in the city of Cape Town. It examines its democratic, social and communicational anchors in terms of facilitation and openness to change, on one hand; and it examines Mobile, Web and Social media, in terms of adoption and use for the purpose of public participation on the other hand. The research adopted the Critical Realism philosophical paradigm for its ontology and epistemology. It set out to use existing knowledge, theories and models to work mainly with qualitative data. It followed a qualitative, exploratory, holistic, and cross-sectional approach developing a case study of eParticipation in the city of Cape Town from a triangulation of methods. Data was gathered from literature, documents, in-depth interviews, a focus group and observation of meetings. The data gathered was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The case study analysis followed the structure of the research conceptual model and built the story of the development of eParticipation in the city, bringing together readiness achievements in individual community members‘ perceptions and attitudes to eParticipation, and readiness achievements in local government induced social facilitation of eParticipation. These eParticipation readiness elements were considered direct determinants of individuals‘ intention to participate using Mobile, Web and Social media, and of local government democratic engagement and openness to change, constituting the city‘s intensity of e-participation. That estimate of the intensity of eParticipation provided ground to sketch out it position towards achieving ‗cultural eParticipation‘ for the city of Cape Town. This study has implications for theory, policy and practice: It develops analytical frameworks for assessing and determining the place of eParticipation; and it suggests a map of favouring and hampering elements to eParticipation in the city of Cape Town.

Thesis (MA (Public and Development Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Developmental local government places emphasis on the importance of partnerships between local government and various stakeholders such as community-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and private sector organisations delivering services to communities. The focus of this thesis is on a service delivery improvement plan for Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay, Cape Town, a poor Black informal settlement alongside a well-established and affluent White suburb. There is severe lack of service delivery in that community and the study has sought to suggest a solution that would address the appalling situation in which the people of Imizamo Yethu live. It seeks to respond to the question: How can partnerships between civil society organisations, local government and the private sector improve service delivery in Imizamo Yethu? The main research objectives were to determine how local government, business and civil society organisations can deliver services; to establish whether there were any partnerships between local government, civil society and the private sector in Imizamo Yethu; to describe the activities of role players in Imizamo Yethu; to identify areas that require partnership between these role players; to generate information for future research that will enable the community of Imizamo Yethu to address their problems; and to make recommendations on how service provision could be improved by establishing partnerships between local government, civil society and the private sector. Service provision is a complex exercise that needs different skills and strategies. Local government alone cannot win the battle of service delivery. What is needed is the collaboration of different role players using their different and unique capabilities. Partnerships between local government, civil society organisations and the private sector can be an effective alternative model of service provision. The study therefore focuses on improving partnerships between local government, civil society and business in Imizamo Yethu. While many civil society organisations, business organisations and local government departments are involved in service delivery and development in Imizamo Yethu, these organisations operate in isolation from each other. This makes it virtually impossible for them to make a dent in service delivery challenges. Through partnerships, local government, civil society and the private sector could wszssork together to mitigate the situation in the particular community. Forums by means of which local government, civil society organisations and business can work together should therefore be formed. Such forums could assist in terms of devising a strategy to provide services, and disseminate information. The study examines the level of service delivery and partnerships in Imizamo Yethu. It was found that there is both lack of service delivery and lack of partnership between the local government, which is the City of Cape Town, civil society and the private sector. It is recommended that community service delivery be established, with dissemination of information by the City of Cape Town by means of a communication strategy aimed at informing the community about such service delivery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelingsgerigte plaaslike regering beklemtoon die belangrikheid van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid en verskillende belanghebbers soos gemeenskapsgebaseerde organisasies, nie-regeringsorganisasies en organisasies in die private sektor wat dienste aan gemeenskappe lewer met die oog op ontwikkeling. Die tesis fokus op ‘n verbeterde diensleweringsplan vir Imizamo Yethu te Houtbaai, Kaapstad, ’n arm, informele Swart nedersetting aangrensend aan ‘n goed gevestigde en welgestelde wit voorstad. Die gemeenskap ondervind ’n ernstige gebrek aan dienslewering en die studie het gepoog om ’n oplossing aan die hand te doen om die haglike omstandighede waarin die inwoners van Imizamo Yethu bestaan, aan te spreek. Dit het probeer om die vraag met betrekking tot hoe vennootskappe tussen organisasies van die burgerlike samelewing, die regering en die private sektor dienslewering aan Imizamo Yethu kan verbeter. Die hoof navorsingsdoelwitte was om vas te stel hoe plaaslike regering en organisasies binne die sakelewe en burgerlike samelewing dienste kan lewer; om vas te stel of daar enige vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor in Imizamo Yethu bestaan; om die aktiwiteite van rolspelers in Imizamo Yethu te beskrywe; om areas waarbinne ’n vennootskap tussen sodanige rolspelers benodig word, te identifiseer; om inligting vir toekomstige navorsing wat die gemeenskap in Imizamo Yethu in staat sal stel om hul probleme aan te spreek, te genereer; en om voorstelle aan die hand te doen oor hoe dienslewering deur die daarstelling van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike bestuur, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor verbeter kan word. Die lewering van dienste is ‘n ingewikkelde oefening wat verskillende vaardighede en strategieë verg. Die regering is nie in staat om die stryd om dienste te lewer, op sy eie te stry nie. Wat vereis word, is samewerking van die kant van verskillende rolspelers wat hul onderskeie en unieke vermoëns inspan. Vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, organisasies binne die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor kan ’n effektiewe alternatiewe model vir dienslewering wees. Die studie is dus ook gerig op die verbetering van vennootskappe tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die sakelewe in Imizamo Yethu. Terwyl vele organisasies binne die burgerlike samelewing en sakelewe en plaaslike regeringsdepartemente reeds by dienslewering en ontwikkeling in Imizamo Yethu betrokke is, tree hierdie organisasies afsonderlik op. Hul geïsoleerdheid maak dit haas onmoontlik om die uitdagings verbonde aan dienslewering die hoof te bied. Vennootskap tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor kan egter samewerking bewerkstellig om omstandighede binne die besondere gemeenskap te verlig. Forums waarbinne samewerking tussen die plaaslike owerheid, die burgerlike gemeenskap en die sakelewe moontlik is, behoort dus geskep te word. Sulke forums kan die ontwikkeling van ’n strategie vir dienslewering en die verspreiding van inligting aanhelp. Die studie het die vlak van dienslewering en vennootskap in Imizamo Yethu ondersoek. ’n Gebrek aan dienslewering sowel as aan vennootskap tussen die plaaslike owerheid, naamlik die Stad Kaapstad, die burgerlike samelewing en die private sektor is gevind. Die voorstel is dat die Stad Kaapstad dienslewering aan die gemeenskap instel, tesame met ‘n inligtingstrategie wat daarop gemik is om die gemeenskap oor sodanige dienslewering in te lig.

South Africa (SA) has always been a unique case for political scientists to analyse because of its heavy socio-economic cleavages created as a result of racist apartheid policies, but what has not been extensively covered is how these economic and social cleavages could impact on the practical experiences of public participation in post-apartheid South Africa. There are indeed many unexplored dimensions of this area. Herein lies the rationale for this research which revolves largely around global consensus amongst academics, development practioners, civil society as well as, amongst others, global bodies, that public participation is part of the solution to SA's development challenges but acknowledgement that obstacles to constructive SA public participation with local government do exist; it are these (potentially unique) obstacles which this dissertation aims to identify and examine in order to become part of the solution for a better SA for all. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Deepening participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in a local municipality is crucial to improve transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Participatory governance warrants the provision of meaningful, purposeful and empowering opportunities and spaces for the engagement of residents in the affairs of a municipality. Despite being advocated as an effective mechanism for promoting good governance, particularly when implemented in budgetary monitoring and evaluation, participatory governance remains a neglected area of emphasis in local municipalities. This qualitative case study investigated the effectiveness of participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in an information age in the case of Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality. The objectives were to assess the ward committee members' and municipal officials' understanding of participatory governance and its importance in the context of municipal governance; examine the scope of budgetary monitoring and evaluation as implemented in the municipality, the associated benefits and barriers to implementing participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation processes, and develop insights into the effectiveness and use of ICTs in information dissemination and accessibility in relation to the outcomes and impact of budgetary monitoring and evaluation. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews and open-ended qualitative questionnaires were used to collect primary data from municipal officials (N=8) and ward committee members (N=10). Non-probability sampling techniques (i.e., purposive and snowball sampling) were used to select the participants. Tesch’s eight-step descriptive data analysis technique was utilised to analyse the textual qualitative data gathered. This research report provides the main findings and conclusions based on the objectives that the study aimed to achieve. Recommendations are made to strengthen the effectiveness of participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in an information age in the case of the Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality and opportunities for future research.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Xenophobic hostility is not an unfamiliar concept – it is practiced all over the world, also in South Africa. Defined by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) as a deep dislike of non-nationals by nationals of a recipient state, it constitutes a violation of the human rights of a targeted group, threatening the very principals upon which the young democracy is modelled on. What distinguishes xenophobia in South Africa from the rest of the world is its violent manifestation. In this country xenophobia is more than just an attitude, it is a violent practise, fuelled by racism, intolerance, ignorance and incapacity to deliver on developmental expectations. The 2008 xenophobic attacks in major centres in South Africa stunned the local and international communities, causing researchers to rush in search of answers. Just as the furore turned into complacency, on 17 November 2009, 3000 Zimbabwean citizens living in the rural community of De Doorns in the Western Cape were displaced as a result of xenophobic violence. Reasons for the attacks vary, with some blaming the contestation for scarce resources, others attribute it to the country’s violent past, inadequate service delivery and the influence of micro politics in townships. In assessing the reasons for the attacks the study claims that the third tier of government in terms of its Constitutional developmental mandate fails to properly engage with communities on their basic needs; that its inability to live up to post-apartheid expectations triggers frustration into violent xenophobic action. The De Doorns case offers valuable insight into the nature and scope of the phenomenon in rural areas, highlighting local government’s community participation efforts in exercising its developmental responsibility and dealing with the issue of xenophobia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Xenofobie is nie ’n onbekende verskynsel nie, dit kom reg oor die wêreld, ook in Suid- Afrika voor. Gedefinieer deur die Suid Afrikaanse Menseregte Kommissie as ’n diep gesetelde afkeur aan vreemdelinge deur die inwoners van ’n gasheer land, verteenwoordig dit ’n skending van menseregte en hou dit ’n bedreiging vir die jong demokrasie in. Xenofobie in Suid-Afrika word gekenmerk deur die geweldadige aard daarvan. Hier verteenwoordig dit meer as ’n ingesteltheid, dit is ’n geweldadige uiting van gevoelens, aangespoor deur, rassisme, onverdraagsaamheid, onverskilligheid en die onvermoë om aan ontwikkelings-verwagtinge te voldoen. Die 2008 xenofobiese aanvalle in die stedelike gebiede van Suid-Afrika het die land en die wêreld diep geraak en ’n soeke na oplossings ontketen. Op 14 November 2009 word die gerustheid na die 2008 woede erg versteur toe 3 000 Zimbabwiërs in De Doorns in die Wes-Kaap deur xenofobiese geweld ontheem is. Redes wat aangevoer word wissel vanaf mededinging vir werksgeleenthede tot die land se geweldadige verlede, onvoldoende dienslewering en die invloed van mikro politiek in woonbuurte. Met die oorweging van redes vir die aanvalle maak die studie daarop aanspraak dat die derde vlak van regering in terme van sy Konstitusionele ontwikkelings-mandaad gefaal het om na behore met die gemeenskappe rondom hul behoeftes te skakel, dat die regering se onvermoë om aan die post-apartheid verwagtinge te voldoen frustrasie in xenofobiese geweld laat oorgaan het. Die De Doorns geval bied waardevolle insig in die aard en omvang van xenofobiese geweld in landelike gebiede en lê klem die plaaslike regering se hantering van openbare deelname in terme van sy ontwikkelings verpligtinge.

The provision of housing is a developmental practice and development cannot prevail without public participation. This is echoed in the Manila Declaration on People‟s Participation and Sustainable Development, 1989 as follows, “Public participation is an essential part of human growth that is the development of self-confidence, pride, initiative, responsibility, cooperation. Without such development within the people themselves, all efforts to alleviate their poverty will be immensely more difficult, if not impossible” (Burkey, 1993:56). Housing provision plays a vital role in meeting basic needs; dwellings provide the security required for basic functioning and are thus essential for both human development and the alleviation of poverty. South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world. It includes the municipal legislative framework that provides for community participation in decision-making at municipal level. However, in practice, citizens have had little experience of this, which is particularly relevant in contexts of severe poverty and failure by the state to provide basic services. This case study demonstrates the challenges faced by the Centre for Public Participation (CPP), a national NGO, when working to influence central government policy on citizen participation. It also explores the role and influence of international donors in promoting this agenda. From the literature review, it was evident that service delivery is essential in the communities, and, as such, government departments and municipalities have a critical role to play. In order to achieve this goal, an interview was conducted with various interviewees. The participants ranged from the youth to the elderly citizens in the community as well as government officials. The main patterns that emerged from the collected data related to the dissatisfaction of the community about the lack of consultation. It would be advisable for government, especially municipalities, to take cognizance of the results and concerns, in an effort to improve and ensure the effective service delivery, as stipulated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) document.