Thesis (M. Tech) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / In terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), local government in South Africa is obliged to ensure that sustainable services are provided to communities. Without any doubt, the effective and efficient execution of this responsibility would bring about an environment conducive to service excellence on local government level. However, South African municipalities are characterised by poor service provision; and the various incidents arising from dissatisfaction on the part of residents in respect of the services rendered are daily becoming a greater challenge to municipalities in the Free State Province. In order to meet the service provision standards, as stipulated in the Constitution, the development and implementation of municipal policies is essential. Policy is defined, inter alia, as the setting out of basic principles that must be pursued in order to achieve specific objectives. Local government has the legislative and executive competency to develop and implement policies. As a result of the diversity and complexity of policy-making, a conceptual framework for the policy-making process at local government level is an essential requirement. This process is described in the dissertation as a sequential pattern consisting of the following phases: policy agenda-setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy implementation and execution and policy evaluation. However, municipalities do not have the institutional capacity, skills and experience necessary for the development and implementation of municipal policies. A further aspect that complicates the creation and implementation of policies is the large amount of legislation that regulates local government in South Africa. This legislation also requires municipalities to develop and implement various policies. There are several factors that influence policy-making at local government level. Aspects such as the political environment, the financial environment and community needs have a direct and significant effect on policy-making at this level of government. Capacity shortages probably comprise the factor that has the most detrimental effect on policy-making at local government level; and therefore the necessity for the relevant skills and knowledge relating to policymaking is indisputable. It is just as essential, however, that the other two spheres of government, namely national and provincial government, should carry out their constitutional obligation to support municipalities and strengthen their capacity. Therefore, the aim of this study is, firstly, to identify specific actions that could be implemented by local and district municipalities to improve the policy-making process. Secondly, to determine the reasons for the inadequate formulation, adoption and implementation of the municipal policies. Thirdly, to determine the specific role of national and provincial government, as well as that of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), in supporting municipalities in the policy-making process. In addition, strategies that could be implemented in order to improve the institutional capacity, skills and experience at local government level, with a view to developing and implementing appropriate policies, have also been identified.

Text in Afrikaans / In this study the relationship between political decision making, spatial change and provision of selected municipal services was investigated. Legislation and policy, spatial demarcation and local government structures are determined by political decision making on various government levels. The international system as well as the local history and factors leading to spatial change impact on municipal demarcation and service delivery. Demographic change due to re-delimitation of boundaries, densification within the area of jurisdiction and immigration imply that service requirements change. In 1994/5, the rural and residential areas were incorporated to the former Verwoerdburg and formed the Southern Pretoria Metropolitan Substructure (Centurion). In December 2000 Centurion lost its autonomous status and was incorporated as administrative unit into the larger Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Restructuring have implications for the political representation of communities, the spatial extension of service networks, priority areas, and the location of service provision points. / In hierdie studie is die verband tussen politieke besluitneming, ruimtelike verandering en die lewering van geselekteerde munisipale dienste ondersoek. Wetgewing en beleid, ruimtelike afbakening en plaaslikeowerheidstrukture word deur politieke besluitneming op verskillende regeringsvlakke bepaal. Die internasionale sisteem, asook plaaslike historiese gebeure en aanleidende faktore tot ruimtelike verandering het 'n impak op beide munisipale afbakening en dienslewering. Demografiese verandering as gevolg van die herbepaling van grense, verdigting binne die regsgebied en immigrasie impliseer dat diensbehoeftes verander. Landelike en residensiele gebiede is in 1994/5 by die voormalige Verwoerdburg geinkorporeer om die Suidelike Pretoria Metropolitaanse Substruktuur (Centurion) te vorm. In Desember 2000 het die Stadsraad van Centurion sy outonome status verloor en is as administratiewe eenheid by die groter Tshwane Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit geinkorporeer. Herstrukturering het implikasies vir die politieke verteenwoordiging wat gemeenskappe geniet, die ruimtelike uitbreiding van diensnetwerke, prioriteitsgebiede en die plasing van dienstevoorsieningspunte. / Geography / M.A. (Geografie)

This study examines the role of Ward Committees in facilitating “authentic” public participation, with particular reference to Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. The key question of the study is whether Ward Committees serve as effective mechanisms to promote public participation in the local sphere of government in South Africa. To answer this question, this research project focuses on the composition, functioning and responsibilities of Ward Committees, and how these contribute to effective public participation. This is important because one of the mandates of local government in the post-apartheid era in South Africa is to promote local democracy through the participation of communities. The empirical findings of this research project reveal that Ward Committees are confronted with a multitude of challenges where their functioning tends to be compromised. This has led this research to recommend the improvement of capacity among Ward Committees as a way of enhancing public participation. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The upsurge in the number of public protests in most South African municipalities, including the City of Cape Town, continues unabated. While public protest is a democratic right, provided for in the Constitution (RSA 1996), the violent nature and persistence of protests at municipal level are a cause for concern. The associated violence often leads to the destruction of both public and private property, disruptions in economic activities, loss of lives and severe injuries to innocent victims. The prevalence of public protests continues despite the fact that the new democratic dispensation ushered in a paradigm geared for transforming local government from a racially-segregated institution into a democratic and autonomous sphere of government, with a broad developmental mandate. This new dispensation gave birth to the “invited spaces” of participation, which are aimed at providing scope for the public to influence, direct, control and own the development and decision-making processes. In order to determine factors that contribute to public protests in Khayelitsha the study adopted a qualitative research paradigm. Personal interviews, focus group discussion and participatory observation were some of the research methods used to collect primary data. The study indicates that lack of authentic and empowering public participation opportunities in the decision-making processes of the City of Cape Town alienates the public and leads to public disengagement from available municipal processes. It has been during this period of alienation that the public have been “inventing own spaces” of participation, in the form of public protests demanding that public voices be heard. The study also indicates that poverty, unemployment and glaring gaps of social inequality, reinforced by comparison to available examples in the neighbourhood, are root causes of public protests. The new public participation model that has been developed from this research should be adopted by South African municipalities as an essential public participation strategy. It empowers the public to negotiate a new “social contract” with the authorities primarily based on the public’s terms. It is only when authentic and empowering public participation is practised by municipalities that violent public protests can be minimised. Such authentic and empowering public participation provides latitude for the public to influence, direct, control and even own their “own” development and decision-making processes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die toename in voorvalle van openbare protes in byna alle Suid-Afrikaanse munisipale gebiede, insluitend die van die Stad Kaapstad, duur onverpoosd voort. Terwyl openbare protes weliswaar ’n demokratiese reg is wat in die Grondwet (RSA 1996) verskans word, is die huidige ingeburgerde en gewelddadige aard daarvan rede tot ernstige kommer. Hierdie gewelddadigheid lei dikwels tot vernietiging van sowel openbare as private eiendom. Ook ekonomiese aktiwiteite word ontwrig; daar is lewensverlies en ernstige beserings aan onskuldige slagoffers . Die hoë voorkoms van openbare protes duur voort, ondanks die feit dat die nuwe demokratiese bestel ’n paradigmaskuif ten gunste van transformasie in die plaaslike regeringstelsel beteken het. Alles was in plek om weg te beweeg van rasgesegregeerde instellings na ’n demokratiese, outonome regeringsfeer met ’n breë, ontwikkelingsgedrewe mandaat. Hierdie nuwe bedeling het “genooide ruimtes” vir deelname geskep, wat geleentheid sou skep om invloed en rigtinggewende beheer te verkry oor daardie prosesse van besluitneming wat deelnemers se eie lewens raak. Om die faktore te bepaal wat tot openbare protes in Khayelitsha bydra, is ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma gekies. Persoonlike onderhoud, fokusgroepbespreking en deelnemende waarneming is van die navorsingsmetodes wat ingespan is om primêre data te versamel. Hierdie navorsingstudie het bevind dat, ondanks die “genooide ruimtes”, daar steeds ’n gebrek aan egte en bemagtigende openbare deelnemingsgeleenthede in die besluitnemingsproses van die Stad Kaapstad bestaan, en dat dit die publiek vervreem en daartoe lei dat burgers hul aan die beskikbare deelnemingsgeleenthede onttrek. Gedurende hierdie periode van vervreemding het die publiek van Khayelitsha hulle eie “geskepde ruimtes” ontwikkel. Dit was gegiet in die vorm van openbare protes, waar die stemme van die algemene publiek gehoor kon word. Die studie het ook aangedui dat armoede, werkloosheid en opvallende voorbeelde van sosiale ongelykheid (te vinde in die onmiddellike omgewing) aanleidende faktore vir protesaksie was. Die nuwe openbare deelnemingsmodel wat uit die navorsing ontwikkel is, kan aan alle Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteite ’n onontbeerlike geleentheid bied om ’n doeltreffende openbare deelnemingstrategie te ontwikkel. Dit bemagtig die publiek om ’n nuwe onderhandelde “maatskaplike kontrak” met die owerhede, hoofsaaklik op die publiek se terme, te sluit. Slegs wanneer die publiek aan egte, bemagtigende openbare deelname blootgestel word, sal daar sprake van ’n vertrouensverhouding met die owerhede wees en sal gewelddadige protesaksie tot die minimum beperk kan word. Sodanige egte en bemagtigende openbare deelname skep ruimte vir die publiek om hulle “eie” ontwikkeling te beïnvloed en mede-beheer te bekom oor die besluitnemingsprosesse wat daarmee gemoeid is.

This study was researched at Mnquma Local Municipality of Amathole District Municipality in Eastern Cape Province, in the Republic of South Africa. The study is about: The assessment of relationship between the traditional leaders and ward Councillors and its impact on service delivery: A case of Mnquma Local Municipality. This municipality consists of 61 wards and 41 ward Councillors. The purpose of this study was to investigate what causes tensions in the relationship between traditional leaders and ward Councillors and also how can it be managed and or be improved as it affects production in service delivery and development. Furthermore, the study seeks to find ways through which the relationship between traditional leaders and ward Councillors could be managed to harmonize the relationship between them in order to improve service delivery in Mnquma Local Municipality. Most municipalities which are based in rural areas in South Africa are faced with a lot of challenges which has left development staggering and thus in long run inefficiency in service delivery is caused. As a result of poor service delivery Mnquma Municipality is faced with the challenge of instability towards its management, whereby several Mayors have been chased away through protests, as result service delivery has been hampered and delayed. These challenges are the results of the poor relationship between traditional leaders and ward Councillors over land ownership, control and authority of resources for development. The legislations that govern traditional leaders are ambiguous or rather vague when it comes to their roles and functions in development and service delivery in the new democratic government of South Africa and thus cause the traditional leaders to feel that they are undermined by the ward Councillors whom according to traditional leaders feel they that ward Councillors are more recognized than them. It is in this context that this study seeks to investigate the causes of conflict between the traditional leaders and ward Councillors and how the conflict impacts on service delivery and development and also can it resolved to harmonize the situation. The researcher used a qualitative method to collect data, the questionnaires and interviews were conducted to Municipalities, Traditional Leaders, Municipal Managers, Ward Councillors, Ward Committees and the community. Data was collected and analysed using descriptive method. The researcher came out with the following summary of the findings: The management of relationship between traditional leaders and ward Councillors over ownership of projects, control, land distribution and authority is very poor. Traditional leaders felt that the present democratic government has given too much power to the ward Councillors for most development programs. There is no absolute proper consultation of traditional leaders by neither local government officials, municipalities and ward Councillors before any development is done in their areas. Poor recognition of traditional leaders by ward Councillors and other politicians. There is allegation by the community members and traditional leaders that ward Councillors are bias in delivering services, preference is given to the group that belongs to their party of interest. When there is development projects employment opportunity is not given to the local communities of that area. Traditional leaders are not allowed to actively participate in council meetings.

The study took a qualitative approach to the analysis of the effect of the politics-administrative interface on municipal service delivery. It was a case study of the Mnquma local municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The researcher developed a keen interest in researching on the topic because the political infighting and clashes between politicians and administrators of the municipality have caused a public outcry for the root causes of the infighting to be effectively addressed and redressed. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations of the study will help, reshape public policy implementation, service delivery and fostering of mutual cooperative relations between politicians and administrators both at local government level and any other sphere of government in South Africa. The study, is categorized into five chronological chapters, with chapter one (introduction and background), chapter two (literature review), chapter three (research design and methodology), chapter four (data analysis, interpretation and presentation) and chapter five (conclusions and recommendations). The researcher used a sample size of 40 respondents who were selected using snowball sampling, a non-random sampling design spread accordingly over both politicians and administrators. Data collection was made possible through an open-ended questionnaire, interviews, observations and documentary analysis. Various reports and media statements were also used to augment this empirical study. The study also used an in-depth qualitative data analysis technique which was descriptive in nature and the study made numerous deductions and findings based on the collected and collated data. Findings of the study were, inter alia, too much politicization of the public sector, interference between politicians and administrators into each other’s affairs and vice versa and adverse effects of cadre deployment which are damaging service delivery. The study made numerous recommendations which included, inter alia, training and development of administrators and politicians on their respective roles and responsibilities, enforcement of the politics-administrative interface as a mutually beneficial approach to service delivery, need for proper interpretation of Acts and policy documents and the enforcing of section 139 interventions into municipalities.

The research study focused on the service delivery challenges regarding water and sanitation in the Gauteng Province. Two metropolitan municipalities including the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane were investigated and used for this research study. The study used a qualitative research design and the methodology includes literature reviews and structured interviews to highlight the challenges from an international, South African, and provincial perspective, particularly in Gauteng. An interview schedule was developed and structured interviews were conducted to collect primary data from the selected participants. Although the literature review conducted indicate that the provision of water and sanitation in the Gauteng Province had improved, significant challenges remain. Areas such as informal settlements are still experiencing shortcomings as compared to the metropolitan areas. Institutional challenges such as a lack of appropriate skills still exist. Other challenges such as poor financial management and non-payment for services by the communities persist. Furthermore, the literature indicates that community protests over basic services occur more in the Gauteng Province than in other provinces. This indicates that the challenges of providing basic services such as water and sanitation are still persistent. To deal with the challenges of providing water and sanitation services, the government and agencies involved in the provision of these services implemented several measures. To alleviate the challenges, not only government help is needed, but also help from other sectors, including non-governmental organisations, agencies, and communities. The findings of this study might assist the municipalities to improve the services through its recommendations. The study is also meant to help public officials and political office bearers to understand the dynamics and challenges they are faced with when carrying out their duties. This study will be used to add to the current literature on the basic service delivery challenges in the Gauteng Province, it will also contribute to academic and government related publications for further references and broadens research on the subject. / Public Administration / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

The purpose of this study was to identify the relevant factors to develop a framework for optimising public participation to improve service delivery in a metropolitan municipality in South Africa. This approach was undertaken with a view to identify the gaps created through the expectations generated among citizens by the national government and the weaknesses in the capacity of the local government to deliver through its supply chain processes, and hence develop strategies to close the existing gaps as much as possible. There were four samples in the study namely: citizens, managers, businesses and ward committee members (WCM). The data that were collected for citizens were conducted at each Customer Care Centres (CCC). For the other three sets of respondents, it was conducted through email. The research approach was quantitative. Factor analysis was applied in this research study in order to identify significant factors that drive public participation in service delivery by local government. Findings of this study showed that there are two major perceptions of the respondents perceived to affect the optimisation of effective service delivery: 1) the facilitating factor and 2) the impeding factor. This was assisted by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) where a model was designed which resulted in the development of the public participation framework for effective municipal service delivery. These findings will inform the management of local governments to prioritise inclusion of all citizens by optimising their participation for effective service delivery. Areas where participation in local government was lacking were identified and this study presents well-informed strategies for local governments and for their possible implementation. / Business Management / D.B.L.

South Africa adopted the democratic decentralisation governance model in 1994 with the aim of improving, inter alia, service delivery. The adoption of this model resulted in the establishment of three spheres of government, namely, national, provincial and local. These three government spheres are distinctive, interdependent, interrelated and autonomous. Power and responsibilities are devolved from the national to the provincial and then to the local government spheres. Cooperative government and intergovernmental relations structures in the three spheres of government were established in order to improve service delivery and to assist in the execution of the devolved powers. However, the results of this study revealed that the structures which had been established were not effective in addressing the housing challenges facing the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality (BLM). The results also revealed that each government sphere executed its housing mandatory responsibilities only when a housing project was launched or implemented in the BLM. During housing project implementation, the BLM was responsible for evaluation, the Mpumalanga Provincial Department of Human Settlements (MPDHS) was responsible for contracting a housing service provider and for payments while the National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) was responsible for quality of the houses and compliance to national housing standards. In addition, the BLM had an inspection unit and the NDHS was supposed to work closely with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). However, the houses provided had defects ranging from cracked walls and floors, leaking roofs, leaking pipes to fading paint. The main role of the NHBRC is to check the quality or adequacy of public houses before they are allocated to the targeted beneficiaries. / Public Administration / D. Admin. (Public Administration)

Text in Afrikaans / In this study the relationship between political decision making, spatial change and provision of selected municipal services was investigated. Legislation and policy, spatial demarcation and local government structures are determined by political decision making on various government levels. The international system as well as the local history and factors leading to spatial change impact on municipal demarcation and service delivery. Demographic change due to re-delimitation of boundaries, densification within the area of jurisdiction and immigration imply that service requirements change. In 1994/5, the rural and residential areas were incorporated to the former Verwoerdburg and formed the Southern Pretoria Metropolitan Substructure (Centurion). In December 2000 Centurion lost its autonomous status and was incorporated as administrative unit into the larger Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Restructuring have implications for the political representation of communities, the spatial extension of service networks, priority areas, and the location of service provision points. / In hierdie studie is die verband tussen politieke besluitneming, ruimtelike verandering en die lewering van geselekteerde munisipale dienste ondersoek. Wetgewing en beleid, ruimtelike afbakening en plaaslikeowerheidstrukture word deur politieke besluitneming op verskillende regeringsvlakke bepaal. Die internasionale sisteem, asook plaaslike historiese gebeure en aanleidende faktore tot ruimtelike verandering het 'n impak op beide munisipale afbakening en dienslewering. Demografiese verandering as gevolg van die herbepaling van grense, verdigting binne die regsgebied en immigrasie impliseer dat diensbehoeftes verander. Landelike en residensiele gebiede is in 1994/5 by die voormalige Verwoerdburg geinkorporeer om die Suidelike Pretoria Metropolitaanse Substruktuur (Centurion) te vorm. In Desember 2000 het die Stadsraad van Centurion sy outonome status verloor en is as administratiewe eenheid by die groter Tshwane Metropolitaanse Munisipaliteit geinkorporeer. Herstrukturering het implikasies vir die politieke verteenwoordiging wat gemeenskappe geniet, die ruimtelike uitbreiding van diensnetwerke, prioriteitsgebiede en die plasing van dienstevoorsieningspunte. / Geography / M.A. (Geografie)