MPM / Oliver Reginald Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

Institute for Rural Development / PHDRDV

MURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning / Rural municipalities in South Africa have been grappling with delivering quality services to communities due to shrinking revenue bases over the last ten years. The study explored the relationship between consumer debt recovery and municipal service delivery in three selected municipalities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The implications of revenue collection in rural areas was examined through the computation of the Coefficient Effect Size Model which aimed at proving whether rurality had an effect on payment of rates and taxes. A combination of Goal Achievement Matrix and Correlation Quotient analysis were used to explain the linkage between service delivery and the resource base of rural municipalities. The Rurality Quotient and the Coefficient Effect Size were both developed in the study to link the rurality nature of municipalities to the viability of rural municipalities to provide services. The review of literature incorporated an appraisal of municipal policy documents such as the Integrated Development Plans, Spatial Development Plans, Annual Budget Reports and Service Delivery Budget Implementation Plan. The study findings revealed that consumer debts resulted in rural municipalities failing to generate revenue thus affecting internal revenue pockets. Furthermore it was discovered that rural municipalities were recording a negative effect size as well as a negative Rurality Quotient thus proving that rurality directly affected the level of payment of services. The projection showed a significant probability of a steady increase in consumer debts in rural municipalities in the next ten years if the issues and challenges are not addressed effectively. Therefore a Rural Consumer Debt Recovery Framework tool was proposed to provide clear guidelines on how rural municipalities can deal with non-payment of rates and taxes. In addition to this a review and update of all revenue enhancement policies such as the Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy to match the changes occurring over time in rural municipalities is necessary to change the current status of revenue collection in municipalities. / NRF

PhDRDV / Institute for Rural Development / In other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Traditional Councils (TCs) have always been central to the governance of rural communities. In South Africa, they were restructured in 2003 in order to promote effective leadership and good governance. According to the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act 41 of 2003, TCs are responsible for land administration, promotion of peace and stability, facilitating service delivery and building sustainable social cohesion in rural communities, among others. In Vhembe District, for example, land disputes, violent protests and xenophobic attacks are experienced. This situation raises the question whether TCs are really functional. Multi stage stratified random sampling was used to select six out of the 43 TCs in the Vhembe District for the purpose of the current study. Age, gender and degree of rurality were considered when selecting respondents. Using the exploratory sequential mixed methods design, a series of studies were conducted to suggest a functionality index for TCs. The first study was conducted to clarify the meaning of rural development as perceived by grassroots communities. Focus group discussions, observation and preference ranking were used to collect data in the six TCs. Using Atlas Ti version 7.5 software, standard of living, service provision, empowerment, agricultural practice, economic development, shopping malls, indigenous culture and traditions, competent human resource and spatial planning were identified as key elements of rural development. The Friedman test of the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used to calculate the mean ranks of the identified themes. Most respondents (mean rank 7.57) defined rural development in terms of service delivery with construction of shopping centres (mean rank 3.90) and promotion of culture ( mean rank 3.65) being the least popular views. Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < 0. 01) confirmed service delivery and standard of life to be the most preferred indicators of rural development. The second study was to explain the roles of TCS in developing rural communities. In addition to reviewing previous literature and legislations, focus group discussions, observations and preference ranking techniques were used to explain the roles of TCs in rural development. Service delivery, land administration, management of resources, social welfare, administration of justice, economic development, records keeping, recruitment of investors, moral regeneration, culture and tradition, and communication were identified as key roles of TC in developing rural communities. The Friedman test was performed to calculate the mean ranks of each of the identified roles. The results indicated that provisioning of service delivery (mean rank 7.34) was the most preferred role TCs are expected to perform in developing rural communities with communication (mean rank 4.75) being the least preferred. Wilcoxon signedrank test (P=0.00) indicated that there was a remarkable significance difference between the most recognised role of TC (service delivery) and the other three (communication, culture and moral regeneration) which were identified as less important in the current study. It was evident in the study that various government policies that defines the roles of TCs did not provide specific duties traditional councillors should perform within the listed fields of functional domains. The third study was carried out to determine the major attributes of functional TCs in the Vhembe District of South Africa. Leadership and governance, resources, organisational structure, development programmes and social cohesion were the main five attributes of functional TCs identified in the study. Friedman test was computed to establish the mean ranks of each of the identified attributes. The study revealed that effective leadership and good governance (mean rank 3.71) was the most attribute contributing to the functionality of TCs in Vhembe rural communities with social cohesion (mean rank 2.03) being the least identified. The results of Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < 0.01) indicated a significance difference only to those pairs of variables including social cohesion. Therefore, the study concluded that social cohesion was the least preferred attribute of functional TCs. The results of the study were used to develop an index for measuring the functionality of TCs in rural development. The equation is in the form: 􀜻􀯜 􀵌 􀟤 􀵅 􀟚􀬵􀜴 􀵅 􀟚􀬶􀜵 􀵅 􀟚􀬷􀜦􀜲 􀵅 􀟚􀬸􀜵􀜥 􀵅 􀟚􀬹􀜮􀜩 􀵅 􀟳 To become functional, traditional councillors should be equipped with leadership and governance skills for rural development. Based on the findings of the current study, it is further recommended that provisioning of basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity in Vhembe rural communities be prioritized over other programmes for development discussed in the study. Furthermore, the study recommends for establishment of guidelines explaining the roles of TCs and to be translated in local languages. / NRF

MAdmin / Department of Public and Development Administration / The main thrust of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Public Protector’s office in enhancing ethical conduct: The Case of Vhembe District Municipal Area. After the attainment of democracy in 1994, South Africa established the Public Protector’s office and other institutions to enhance ethical conduct within the public service. Despite the establishment of the Public Protector’s office, ethical challenges remained a big problem to achieve good governance and efficient service delivery to the masses of Vhembe. This study followed a mixed research methods and employed a descriptive case study design with explanatory features characterised by the sequential explanatory model strategy in which the collection and analysis of quantitative data was done, followed by the next phase of collecting and analysing qualitative data. Participants in this study were Public Protector’s officials, Mayors, Municipal Managers, Civic Organizations and the representatives of the private (tendering) companies found in Vhembe. The empirical data were collected through questionnaire and semi-structured interview schedule and analysed using SPSS and thematic (content) analysis. Data collection and analysis followed the objectives of the study as a framework. The major finding of the study is that the Public Protector’s office is not effective enough to enhance ethical conduct due to its inability and lack of constitutional powers to enforce adherence and compliance with its recommendations after conducting investigations. As a result, this renders the Public Protector’s office ineffective and unable to enhance ethical conduct effectively. The study therefore, recommends that the Public Protector’s office needs to be provided with sufficient resources as well as more constitutional powers to enable it to enforce implementation and compliance with its recommendations. / NRF

MPM / OR Institute for Governance and Policy Studies / The study was carried out at Thulamela Local Municipality within Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo Province in the Republic of South Africa. The study is about an investigation into the role of traditional leadership in community development: A case of Thulamela Local Municipality. In South Africa, municipalities, especially those which are found in rural areas, are faced with challenges that sometimes hamper development and thus service delivery to clients. These challenges are sometimes as a result of the way traditional leaders execute their role in service delivery in their areas. It is in this context that this study attempts to investigate the role of traditional leadership in community development and how this impacts on service delivery. Only quantitative method was used to collect data. Questionnaires were formulated and conducted to traditional leaders in Thulamela Local Municipality. Questionnaires were designed and administered to traditional leaders in Thulamela Local Municipality. The study seeks to investigate the role that traditional leaders play and how they can be capacitated to improve service delivery. The study seeks to find ways through which traditional leaders can be capacitated to perform their roles effectively in their communities. This study established clearly that traditional leaders play a role in maintaining law and order in their communities. It also became evident with this study that communication between traditional leaders and ward councillors leaves much to be desired. It revealed a trend that traditional leaders are needed, especially when communities embark on protests. / NRF

MA (Tshivenda) / Senthara ya M.E. R. Mathivha ya Nyambo dza Afrika, Vhutsila na Mvelele / Muvhuso wa vhukoḽoni u tshi swika kha ḽino ḽa Afrika Tshipembe hu vhonala hu tshi nga wo vha wo ḓisa nḓaḓo na masiandaitwa mivhusoni ya vhongwaniwapo vha vharema, vhe vha vhonala vha tshi nga vho vha vho dzula zwavhuḓi ḽo lala. U bva zwenezwo hu vhonala hu tshi nga yo sia nḓaḓo na masiandaitwa azwo. Zwi vhonala zwi tshi vho nga tshilonda tshi sa phuphei tshine tsha dzulela u ṅweka tshi sa fholi u swika na ṋamusi. Ndivho ya iyi ṱhoḓisiso ndi u ita tsenguluso ya tsudzuluswo ya vhuluvha ha vhalanda u bva kha vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala u ya kha vhorapoḽotiki vha muvhuso tshiṱirikini tsha Vhembe. Muṱoḓisisi u ḓo shumisa ngona nthihi fhedzi, ndi ngona ya khwaḽithethivi. Kha ngona ya khwaḽithethivi muṱoḓisisi u ḓo kuvhanganya mafhungo awe nga u shumisa mbudzisavhathu na mbudziso. Vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala vhu vhonala vhu tshi nga vhu ḓo vhuelwa nga u luvhiwa, u ṱhonifhiwa, u wana mashango avho murahu khathihi na u ḓo swikelela kha u vha tshipiḓa tsha komiti ya vhusimamilayo ya muvhuso wa masipala, tshiṱirikini tsha Vhembe, vunduni ḽa Ḽimpopo. Ṱhoḓisiso iyi yo livha kha u tandulula thaidzo ya u sudzuluswa ha vhuluvha ha vhadzulapo u bva kha vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala u ya kha vhorapoḽotiki vha muvhuso. Ṱhoḓisisoni iyi hu vhonala zwi tshi nga hu ḓo konanywa vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala na vhorapoḽotiki, u tandulula thaidzo ya u sudzuluswa ha vhuluvha, u sa vha hone ha tshumisano vhukati ha vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala na vhorapoḽotiki vha muvhuso, u sa vha hone ha komiti ya ṱhanganelano masipalani, vhurangaphanḓa ha sialala na vhorapoḽotiki vha vhonala vha tshi ḓo ḓivha nḓila dzine vha nga dzi tevhela u vhuedzedza mashango kha vhaṋe vhao. Ṱhanganelano ya vhuvhusi ha shango na komiti ya mahosi, zwi vhonala i tshi nga vha yone nḓila ine ya nga fhelisa mifhirifhiri na pfhudzungule tshiṱirikini tsha Vhembe, vunduni ḽa Ḽimpopo, Afrika Tshipembe. / NRF

The focus of this research is to understand the relevance of the Human Resource Development Strategy for the functioning of South African Public Service and its implications for the Emerging Management Development Programme (EMDP). One of the main challenges of the Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS) is its translation into well designed training programmes that are aligned with the goals and objectives of the strategy. The Emerging Management Development Programme (EMDP) is meant to be the translation and interpretation of the HRDS for public sector training and development on emerging management level. The intention of this study is to evaluate, analyse and understand the alignment of the EMDP with the Human Resource Development Strategy for the South African pubic service and subsequently suggest proposals for the possible improvement of emerging middle management development. The objectives of the research will be stated in the form of two critical questions:  What are the main directives in the Human Resource Development Strategy for the Public Service regarding management development in general, and the gaps in the design and development of the Emerging Management Development Programme (EMDP) in particular?  How does the design and development of the current EMDP meet the strategic vision for management development as envisioned in the Human Resource Development Strategy for the Public Service? The research methodology applied in this study, is a qualitative research approach. This approach focuses on phenomena that occur in natural settings, i.e. in the real world and involve studying those phenomena in all of their complexity which is used to gather data. This data is preserved in descriptive narratives. A qualitative research approach also uses mainly the constructivist-interpretive perspective. The key finding is that as much as the EMDP is comprehensive, it is however not yet aligned with the Human Resource Development Strategy of the South African Public Service. The recommendation is that the conversion of the objectives of HRDS-SA into the learning outcomes of the EMDP in order to provide a framework for a comprehensive base of competencies that inform the curriculation of the EMDP is important. This will ensure that the learners are able to benefit from a multitude of skills development activities in the programme and, in so doing, render them more purposeful to improve their impact on the skills challenges of the country. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public management)

The South African Government in 2002 accepted the Public Service Anti-Corruption Strategy (PSACS) with the objective to reduce the manifestation of malfeasance in the public service. The PSACS identified various goals and objectives to be achieved at both the systemic and departmental levels. At the departmental level, the PSACS set out to increase the institutional capacity of departmental institutions, and encourage the management of risk and of discipline in the public service. Departments are required to establish the necessary capacity to formulate fraud prevention and anti-corruption policies, receive and manage allegations of corruption, and investigate allegations of corruption and detected risks at a preliminary level. To manage ethics departments should inter alia identify early signs of a lack of discipline, improve the accountability and capacity of managers to manage discipline, and encourage managers to act against transgressions. However, various authors have been critical of the formulation of policies and the establishment of structures as a policy response to public service corruption. In their view, such an approach often leads to a reduction in the efficiency and effectiveness of public programmes, and even creates opportunities for corruption. In response to such deficiencies, some argue that a compliance-based approach to public service malfeasance should be supplemented by a value-based approach with an emphasis on the development of internal selfcontrol of individuals, the promotion of trust among employees, and the promotion of a culture of responsibility. In this context, this researcher proposes that the promotion of an ethical culture could enhance the implementation of the PSACS. In this dissertation, this researcher set out to evaluate, among others, the ethical culture of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It was decided that a survey would be the most appropriate data collection method. A questionnaire was administered and the data was captured, analysed and interpreted. Various statistical tests were performed and the findings suggest inter alia that the promotion of an ethical culture coincides with lower levels of observed malfeasance. Consequently, when greater clarity of operational and ethics policies is obtained, an increase occurs in both the severity and frequency of penalties for malfeasance, and officials gain greater access to resources and time to execute their responsibilities, the level of observed malfeasance is likely to be reduced. The promotion of an ethical culture could significantly enhance the implementation of the PSACS. / Public Administration / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

Momentous choices and opportunities have opened up in South Africa since a settlement was successfully negotiated and a new political and constitutional dispensation was created. Events such as the constitutional negotiations and the establishment of reconstruction and development initiatives have placed a renewed emphasis on development management, process facilitation and the development of policy. This study provides an overview of the broad field of policy studies and specifically focuses on policy process models. In particular, this study centres on the further development of the generic process model and provides an overview of the application thereof to the operational environment. From this, simulation exercises and case study material have been developed as policy learning methodologies. Institutional arrangements for policy processes and the institutionalisation of policy and related support capacities at intergovernmental and organisational level receive particular attention. The study demonstrates the application of the generic process model by applying the framework to a case study based on the provincial demarcation exercise. This study concludes that policy management, as a cross-cutting, lateral methodology, in conjunction with similar methodologies, such as strategic planning, research methodology and project management, should be regarded as a critical tool, by the academic community and development practitioners alike, for improving the decision-making capacity of government, the private sector and civil society. / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Administration)