Since the second half of the 20th century, public participation in local governance has been widely recognized and promoted by planning theorists and practitioners. Nevertheless, in practice, public participation has faced multiple criticisms, such as a disconnect between process and outcome, low levels of substantive representation for participating community groups, and rigidity in participatory methods. These three criticisms raise the question as to how effective public participatory programs are for multicultural cities, such as New York City, with their increasing numbers of ethnic residents. The goal of this three-article dissertation is to evaluate the current official participatory process in New York City while focusing on effectiveness, representativeness, and inclusiveness, that is, the three aspects of the process receiving the most criticism. Using path analysis, the first article compares and contrasts the effects of Community Board recommendations with those of the recommendations and reviews of other key representatives during the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure and neighborhood characteristics. The results indicate that, although Community Board recommendations have greater direct and indirect effects than those of the borough president, the second model, which incorporates neighborhood variables, reveals that increases in the socio-economic factor and decreases in the immigrant concentration factor are positively associated with changes in decisions within the procedure. Moreover, the second article observed the level of substantive representation in terms of Community Boards using the annual Statement of Needs and survey of residents. The research finds that, Community Board opinions exhibit a high correspondence with the opinions of residents on the need of affordable housing but that the opinions of residents and Community Boards diverged in other topics. Comparatively, Community Boards tend to choose topics that are related to developmental policies as the most pressing issues, while residents find topics relevant to redistributive policies as problematic. The research also reveals that the opinions of ethnic residents are represented less well than those of their non-ethnic neighbors. Lastly, the third article searches for the equity necessary to bring forth inclusive planning processes using interviews with leaders of Community Boards and community-based organizations. The research observes the choices that planners make and finds practical limitations, including legitimacy challenges, linguistic barriers, and definitions of culture. In conclusion, the article proposes that equity comes in multiple forms, including structured collaboration and communication among relevant participants and stakeholders, diverse participation methods for multiple cultures and publics, support from the City, and assistance from planning scholars. Although all three articles point out existing ethnic disparities, the dissertation concludes that an effective, representative, and inclusive participatory process is required for both ethnic and non-ethnic residents in multiethnic, multicultural New York City.

Thesis (Ph.D.(Public Administration)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / South Africa is a country experiencing water scarcity, and the provision of water as well as sanitation is a basic need and a right that must be provided to the populace by the municipalities. The water must either be subsidised by the government through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant or financed through the municipality ’s resources. The Capricorn District Municipality is composed of the Polokwane, Molemole, Lepelle Nkumpi, and Blouberg local Municipalities. Amongst all these municipalities, there is high rural domination and the inability to provide water daily in most jurisdictional areas. In achieving the objectives and addressing factors that impact negatively on sustainable supply of water and effective sanitation within Capricorn District Municipality the study adopted, the theory of rising expectations, the philosophy of servant leadership, the public choice theory, the district’s development plan, the rational model of reasoning and the participatory research paradigm because the study addresses the societal issues that affect mostly marginalised groups. The study used a mixed method research methodology that is dominated by the qualitative method. Quantitative method is used to justify availability of water and sanitation to the Capricorn District’s civilians while the qualitative method was used to investigate the cause and effect of the non-provision of sustainable water as well as sanitation. The study established that there are some hindrances that were found in the focus area (Capricorn District Municipality) because of; illicit activities, poor infrastructural maintenance, and the need to establish an enabling environment by the politicians as well as the officials with no interference in the running of the administrative affairs

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)

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)

The aim of the research is to analyze the processes in the provision of municipal services on the principle of "one window", as well as develop recommendations for process improvement in the provision of municipal services on the principle of "one window" in MSI MFC MO "Yekaterinburg". The object of study: Municipal state-owned institution "multifunctional center of state and municipal services of the municipality" Yekaterinburg ". Subject of research: The processes performed in the provision of municipal services on the principle of "one window". Scientific novelty of the research is: 1) theoretical justification the need to change the traditional approach to the provision of municipal services based on the integration process and marketing approaches; 2) systematization of the problems identified in the analysis of the application process and the marketing approach, and their resolution in the framework of this study; 3) the author's project development service standard of the applicants with the process and the marketing approach in the provision of public and municipal services on the basis of MFC MO "Yekaterinburg". The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the multi-functional centers can apply to develop standards of service applicants with the process and the marketing approach in the provision of public and municipal services in practice. Dissertation materials can be used to develop training courses for undergraduates enrolled in the master's program "Technology of public administration", as well as refresher courses for students in the face of municipal employees. / Целью диссертационного исследования является анализ процессов при предоставлении муниципальных услуг по принципу «одного окна», а также разработка рекомендаций по совершенствованию процессов при предоставлении муниципальных услуг по принципу «одного окна» в МКУ МФЦ МО «город Екатеринбург». Объект исследования: Муниципальное казенное учреждение «Многофункциональный центр предоставления государственных и муниципальных услуг муниципального образования «город Екатеринбург». Предмет исследования: Процессы, осуществляемые при предоставлении муниципальных услуг по принципу «одного окна». Научная новизна диссертационного исследования заключается в: 1) теоретическом обосновании необходимости изменения традиционного подхода к предоставлению муниципальных услуг на основе интеграции процессного и маркетингового подходов; 2) систематизации существующих проблем, выявленных при анализе применения процессного и маркетингового подходов, а также их разрешение в рамках настоящего исследования; 3) авторской разработке проекта стандарта обслуживания заявителей с применением процессного и маркетингового подходов при предоставлении государственных и муниципальных услуг на базе МФЦ МО «город Екатеринбург». Практическая значимость исследования состоит в том, что многофункциональные центры могут применить разработанный стандарт обслуживания заявителей с применением процессного и маркетингового подходов при предоставлении государственных и муниципальных услуг на практике. Материалы диссертации могут быть использованы для разработки учебных курсов для магистрантов, обучающихся по магистерской программе «Технологии государственного администрирования», а также слушателям курсов повышения квалификации в лице муниципальных служащих.

Thesis (MPA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study set out to assess the degree to which organisational performance management (OPM) has been implemented at the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities. A purposive sampling protocol was used, as being representative of developing “B” municipalities. A mixed methodology was employed in lieu of satisfying a thorough triangulation. The thesis objectives were to assess four components or themes of OPM, namely, (i) the objectives specified for OPM, (ii) capacity to implement OPM, (iii) resources available to implement OPM and (iv) the instrument(s) employed to measure organisational performance outcomes. The fifth objective was to construct a “normative” for OPM, for the chosen population, based on the findings from the assessment of the first four objectives stated. The findings revealed that OPM was not institutionalised, or formalised in a manner that manifested a dedicated OPM department and operation. Findings revealed too, that there were many factors which led to “indistinctness” in the way OPM is regarded at the municipalities, as OPM is merged with the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP). One critical factor is that the IDP and SDBIP are not instruments designed to measure performance; hence ‘overall’ performance reports issued in the annual reports remain lacking in being comprehensive. The researcher stressed the importance of strategic planning beyond the IDP and the SDBIP and has motivated for a dedicated OPM function with strategic human resources planning. These measures would ensure the alignment of strategic objectives to the municipalities programme and departmental objectives. Furthermore, no clear separations of functions were found between OPM and the individual appraisal (IA) of senior and general employees as stated in the ‘performance management policies of both municipalities. Chapter five of the study evaluates each of the four themes in terms of the survey results, literature and legislation reviews. For each of the four themes, critical success factors (CSF’s) for the implementation of OPM at the municipalities were constructed. In addition, the evaluation of information in chapter five provided a basis for the formulation of the normative framework presented in chapter six, which offers a “normative” picture of what would constitute effective and efficient OPM at both municipalities. Taken together, the empirical findings, CSF’s and normative framework offers solution to the research problem, which was to conclude an assessment of OPM at the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities. It is envisaged that the results from this thesis would be of strategic value to the municipalities assessed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die mate waarin organisatoriese prestasiebestuur (OPB) by die munisipaliteite van Drakenstein en Stellenbosch geïmplementeer is, te assesseer. Die steekproef is doelgerig gekies as verteenwoordigend van ontwikkelende “B”-munisipaliteite. ’n Gemengde metodologie is gebruik ten einde ’n deeglike triangulasie uit te voer. Die doelstellings van die tesis was om vier komponente of temas van OPB te assesseer, naamlik (i) die doelstellings wat vir OPB gespesifiseer is, (ii) kapasiteit om OPB te implementeer, (iii) hulpbronne beskikbaar om OPB te implementeer en (iv) die instrument(e) wat gebruik is om organisatoriese prestasie-uitkomste te meet. ’n Vyfde doelstelling was om ’n ‘normatief’ vir OPB vir die steekproef saam te stel op grond van die bevindings van die assessering van die vier eersgenoemde doelstellings. Die bevindings het aan die lig gebring dat OPB nie geïnstitusionaliseer of geformaliseer is op ’n wyse wat ’n toegewyde OPB-departement en -werksaamhede aan die dag lê nie. Die bevindings het ook getoon dat daar talle faktore is wat tot ‘onduidelikheid’ lei oor die manier waarop OPB by die munisipaliteite hanteer word, aangesien OPB in die Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan (GOP) en die Dienslewerings- en Begrotingsimplementeringsplan (DLBIP) opgeneem word. Een kritieke faktor is dat die GOP en DLBIP nie instrumente is wat ontwerp is om prestasie te meet nie, wat daartoe lei dat die ‘algehele’ prestasieverslae in die jaarverslag onvolledig sou bly. Die navorser beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van strategiese beplanning wat verder as die GOP en die DLBIP strek asook van ’n toegewyde OBP-funksie tesame met strategiese menslike hulpbron beplanning. Hierdie maatreël sal verseker dat strategiese doelstellings in ooreenstemming is met die munisipaliteite se program- en departementele doelstellings. Voorts is geen duidelike skeiding van funksies gevind tussen OPB en individuele beoordeling van die senior en algemene werknemers soos gestipuleer in die prestasiebestuursbeleide van die munisipaliteite nie. In hoofstuk 5 word elk van die vier temas teenoor die resultate van die opname, die literatuur en ’n oorsig van wetgewing geëvalueer en vir elke tema word kritieke suksesfaktore gelys vir die implementering van OPB by die munisipaliteite. Hierbenewens vorm die evaluering van die inligting in hoofstuk 5 ’n grondslag vir die formulering van die normatiewe raamwerk wat in hoofstuk 6 aangebied word, wat ’n geheelbeeld gee van wat doeltreffende en doelmatige OPB by albei munisipaliteite behels. Gesamentlik bied die empiriese bevindings, die kritieke suksesfaktore en die normatiewe raamwerk ’n antwoord op die navorsingsprobleem, naamlik om ’n assessering van OBP by die munisipaliteite wat in die steekproef verteenwoordig word, uit te voer. Die resultate van hierdie studie sal van strategiese waarde wees vir die munisipaliteite wat geassesseer is.

Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Government needs to provide a robust framework to adapt to the ever-changing environment of those that they serve. Whether or not there are reform procedures involved, the intended benefits depend as much on how they are implemented as on the exact nature of the changes. The municipalities in the Overberg face various challenges, as a result of the continually changing environment within which local government operates. It is therefore important for government to constantly implement new ways to improve service delivery. Many of the municipalities in the Overberg, particularly those suffering under budget and staff capacity pressures, are motivated to adopt new and improved ways to enhance service delivery and to reduce costs. Municipalities in the Overberg have developed their own ideas on how to reduce costs, save time and improve service delivery. A practical way to address these challenges is to consider the option of shared services. This requires different ways of operating: new skills have to be acquired and many changes in management issues need to be addressed. The most common reason for some of the municipalities in the Overberg to be involved in a shared service initiative is to obtain relief from short-term budget pressures. Although this factor is an excellent motivator, one of the major related challenges is the time required to complete this initiative, which almost always takes more than one budget cycle. The ability to implement any form of shared services requires organisational change, which, in many organisations, is the most difficult challenge to confront. For Overberg Municipalities to implement a successful shared service venture it will be important to have a good plan that clearly describes the processes to be followed and the different steps of how to successfully implement and set up such a shared service centre. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regering moet ‘n robuuste raamwerk daarstel om aan te pas by die ewigdurende veranderde omgewing van diegene wie hy bedien. Of daar veranderings prosedure is of nie, die beoogde voordele is eweveel afhanklik van hoe dit geïmplimenteer word as van die presiese omvang van die veranderinge. Verskeie uitdagings word deur munisipaliteite in die Overberg in die gesig gestaar as gevolg van die ewigdurende veranderde omgewing waarin plaaslike regering opereer. Dit is dus belangrik vir die regering om gedurig nuwe maniere te implementeer ten einde dienslewering te verbeter. Verskeie munisipaliteite in die Overberg, veral die wat gebuk gaan onder begroting en personeelkapasiteitsdruk, is gemotiveerd om nuwe verbeterde maniere aan te neem om dienslewering te verbeter en kostes te verminder. Munisipaliteite in die Overberg kom reeds ’n geruime tyd aan met hul eie idees om kostes te verminder, tyd te bespaar en dienslewering te verbeter. ’n Praktiese manier om hierdie uitdagings in munisipaliteite in die Overberg aan te spreek is om die opsie van gedeelde dienste te oorweeg. Dit vereis verskillende maniere van funksionaliteit met nuwe vaardighede wat bekom moet word en verskeie veranderingsbestuurskwessies wat bestuur en oorkom moet word. Die mees algemeenste rede vir sommige van die munisipaliteite in die Overberg om betrokke te raak by ’n gedeelde diens inisiatief is die verligting van kort termyn begrotingsdruk. Alhoewel dit ’n uitstekende motiveerder is, is een van die grootste uitdagings in baie gevalle, die tyd wat vereis word om hierdie inisiatief, wat in die meeste gevalle oor meer as een begrotingsiklus strek, te voltooi. Om enige vorm van gedeelde dienste te implementeer vereis organisatoriese veranderinge wat in baie munisipaliteite die moeilikste uitdaging is om te konfronteer. Vir Overberg munisipaliteite, om ’n suksesvolle gedeelde dienste onderneming te begin en te implementeer is dit belangrik om ‘n behoorlike plan op te stel wat die prosesse wat gevolg moet word en die verskillende stappe aandui.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explains community participation in the Integrated Development Planning (lDP) process and indicates that administrative support in the Oostenberg Municipality is not conducive for the facilitation of effective participation in this process. This resulted in poor attendance of the 1997/98 cycle of the IDP meetings. Certain improvements in this regard to the 1998/99 cycle did not show any significant difference. This situation did not allow the Oostenberg Municipality to achieve the objective of meaningful input from the community in the IDP policy process. It resulted in the budget not reflecting the priority needs of community specifically. Data in the study was obtained by means of a questionnaire. Information derived at supports the researcher's hypothesis that administrative support is not conducive to effective participation. The study yielded various reasons for non-participation, inter-alia that: the community was uninformed about the IDP, preventing people from access to information and effective participation; II> community participation was undertaken by various directorates on a fragmented basis while no official plan for implementing participation in a coordinated fashion existed; the Oostenberg Municipality relied only on community meetings as a method of participation. The illiteracy factor in the Oostenberg community however, made this an ineffective method; and the community do not value their participation because of the perception that the municipality and it's officials do not regard the community input in a serious light. Based on these findings, criteria for supporting effective community participation processes were developed. Practical recommendations which can be used to overcome the problems of participation in the context of the study were formulated. The principle recommendations derived at in this study are the following: ~ participation should be institutionalised by making one directorate responsible for it; ~ incorporating a participation policy into the organisation; ~ introducing alternative participation mechanisms, techniques and structures for the IDP; ~ the establishment of better communication systems and processes for the IDP; and, ~ the use of developmental-orientated officials and councillors (by providing them with ongoing training and development). If officials and councillors become developmentorientated they will eventually value community participation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie verduidelik deelname in die Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsbeplanning proses (GOP) en dui daarop dat administratiewe steun in die Oostenberg Munisipaliteit nie bevorderlik is vir die ontwikkeling van effektiewe deelname in die proses nie. Dit het veroorsaak dat daar swak bywoning van die 1997/98 siklus van GOP vergaderings was. Verbeterings in hierdie verband tot die 1998/99 siklus het nie enige merkwaardige verbeterings getoon nie. Die swak bywoning het nie die Oostenberg Munisipaliteit toegelaat om die doelwitte van betekenisvolle insette van die gemeenskap in die GOP proses te bereik nie. Dit het gevolg dat die prioriteite van die gemeenskap nie in die begroting gereflekteer is nie. Data in die studie was verkry deur middel van 'n vraelys. Afleiding gemaak vanafinligting ondersteun die navorser se hipotese dat administrasie steun nie bevorderlik is vir effektiewe deelname nie. Die studie verskaf verskeie redes vir die swak deelname, onder andere dat: die gemeenskap oningelig was oor die GOP en dat dit die mense weerhou het van toegang tot informasie en effektiewe deelname; .. gemeenskapsdeelname onderneem was deur verskeie direktorate op 'n gefragmenteerde basis terwyl geen amptelike plan vir die implementering van effektiewe deelname op 'n gekoordineerde manier bestaan het nie; Oostenberg Munisipaliteit slegs op gemeenskapsvergaderings staatgemaak het as 'n metode van deelname. Die ongeletterdheid in die Oostenberg gemeenskap het dit 'n oneffektiewe metode gemaak; en .. die gemeenskap heg geen waarde aan hul deelname nie aangesien die persepsie bestaan dat die munisipaliteit en sy amptenare nie die gemeenskap se insette in 'n ernstige lig beskou nie. Gebaseer op hierdie bevinding was kriteria vir effektiewe deelname ontwikkel. Praktiese aanbevelings wat gebruik kan word om probleme van deelname te oorkom was in die konteks van hierdie studie geformuleer. Die belangrikste aanbevelings is as volg: .. deelname moet ge-institusionaliseer word en een direktoraat verantwoordelik te maak daarvoor; .. die daarstelling van 'n deelname-beleid by die munisipaliteit; .. die bekendstelling van alternatiewe deelname meganisme, tegnieke en strukture vir die GOP; .. die vestiging van beter kommunikasie stelsels en prosesse vir die GOP; en .. die aanwending van ontwikkeling georiënteerde amptenare en raadslede (deur hulle te voorsien van deurlopende opleiding en ontwikkeling). Indien amptenare en raadslede ontwikkelings-georiënteerd is, sal hulle waarde kan heg aan gemeenskapsdeelname.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Fixed investment is a prerequisite to economic growth and sustainable development. Such investment includes large and focused capital spending on the expansion and maintenance of major integrated economic infrastructure. South Africa‘s municipal environment is characterised by extensive infrastructure backlogs, an apparent lack of available funding to eradicate these backlogs as well as incapacities to unlock the required funding. This study proposes a mechanism to successfully unlock available funds and to optimally gear large infrastructure projects. The proposed mechanism focuses on reducing and mitigating project and unsystematic risk evaluations of private financiers. As part of the solution the two concepts of Security Risk Deposit and Limited Risk Deposit are introduced. The solution is based on the principle of associated risk transferral and a type of financial insurance related to remaining perceived levels of project and unsystematic risk. The key dilemma relating to the approach to infrastructure development in South Africa, is presented and is systematically resolved over the course of the study. The proposed solution is simulated and it confirms that it is indeed a valid way of ensuring that government attains more value from the limited available grant funding. Private financiers, government departments and the citizens of South Africa will be able to benefit from the proposed approach.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / The main purpose of this research paper is to reveal the importance of rural development with the aim of making municipalities the main drivers of rural development - this in an effort to stimulate and increase economic participation for rural people. The study seeks to understand the intervention by municipalities in accelerating rural development, how municipalities are currently implementing and funding development programmes to improve the lives of rural people. Rural development has been a key strategy to develop the lives of rural people in many countries around the globe. The concept has somewhat been paired in other countries with the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In the new South Africa, the rural development concept has been revived through the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), which intended to eliminate the inequality that was brought by the apartheid system. Many other programmes of development or rather, rural development, were introduced to bridge the gap between the poverty-stricken areas/individual and those who have access to resources for the betterment of their lives. The signs of poverty are, however, still visible in many parts of South Africa, with insignificant signs of improved lives, mostly for rural areas, regardless of the programmes that have been initiated by government since the democratic elections took place in 1994. Thus, the effectiveness of rural development policies and implementation of associated programmes are still questionable. Municipalities are mandated to implement the rural development programmes by default, as they are closer to beneficiaries and communities on the ground. Thus, enabling municipalities to steer these development programmes is a good bottom-up approach to development as opposed to national level undertaking to implement these programmes from the top. However, municipalities have also proved to have their challenges, including challenges of sourcing funding, which then make the drive and implementation of these development ideas difficult to carry out. The study reveals that funding of rural services or anything that is rural in nature, has become very difficult. Thus, this study investigated how municipalities strive to raise funding for rural development in an effort to improve rural people’s lives. The related factor that has been investigated is the capabilities and capacity of municipalities to implement the development programmes. The study also explored the current development situation on how municipalities have been able to carry out the development mandates and what has been the impact of rural development programmes/policies since they have been developed to breach the gap of inequality in the country. Indication by municipalities is that most of their funding is from the government through the Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG) and Equitable Share. However, this funding does not necessarily encompass funding for rural development programmes but rather is for normal capital expenditure, operational expenditure to enable basic service delivery projects, such as water and electricity. The results have indicated that rural development projects are not specifically or necessarily budgeted for, but they are dealt with on a case-by-case basis or as and when rural development ideas are thought of. Regarding the institutional capacity of municipalities, most of the municipalities within the sample (72%) indicated that there is lack of adequate and skilled labour to address the challenges and priorities of rural development. The above challenges have led to municipalities realising a minimal impact for rural development and the inability to prove and point out in any way, the improvement of rural people’s lives. Perhaps some of this depends on how municipalities and communities understand rural development. The study revealed that most municipalities understand rural development as improvement of rural people’s lives and understood rural development as the provision of rural services and infrastructure. This thought is correct regarding rural development, however, the challenges of minimal impact experienced by municipalities could be linked to the limited funding that is being provided for rural development. The consensus is that funding of rural development has been minimal and there has to be more interaction to ensure it is as a priority like other programmes planned and budgeted for by government. There is a need for municipalities to be properly capacitated with skills and technical assistance to take forward the rural development mandate. In the process, municipalities should be able to allocate funds provided either by government or by private sector institutions to avoid rural development projects being funded by chance. To reduce the poverty lines that are visible in most rural areas, rural communities also need to be given training to allow them the mobility to grow those rural development programmes being introduced by government and municipalities, thus sustaining their lives in the long term. Collaboration is of importance, thus different stakeholders should be involved to assist municipalities in accelerating the rural development agenda.