Thesis (M. Dev. (Planning and Development)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / In 1997, the South African Government introduced a White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service. This was to re-emphasis on the performance enhancing role of management in the implementation of service delivery mandates. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of management in implanting service delivery initiatives for community development in Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province South Africa. The methodology of this study was largely a qualitative case study and the quantitative approach was also used to augment the qualitative findings. The study was undertaken in the Vhembe District Municipality by engaging various administrative managers, ward councillors and traditional leaders. In sourcing the information for this research, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 administrative managers, ten traditional leaders and ten ward councillors. The research findings identified the need for the management to take the leading role in service delivery initiatives in order to address the service delivery challenges in local government. Traditional leaders and ward councillors need to enhance the public participation process to ensure the community is on board regarding the progress of their respective projects and planning processes.

This study is about the perceptions, feelings, attitudes and knowledge of people towards government with regard to service delivery and participation with communities in order to accelerate social development. Government's enthusiasm to get things done often results in development not occurring at all. Entering into balanced partnerships with the private sector and communities needs to be explored a lot deeper. It must be borne in mind that people's attitudes, perceptions and feelings may differ according to the different strata of government. The study was undertaken to ascertain how people feel and thereby assess how effective government has been in the past seven years. This in turn will enable government to focus its efforts in the right direction. The study took into account various theoretical issues regarding the role of the state in developing a nation, the importance of knowledge and the management thereof as well as the changing face of development over the years. The shift in paradigm of the study of development is discussed as a matter of importance with structural adjustment programmes often resulting in slowed development and negative economic growth. Often schools of thought in development try to impose their thinking, but what this paper proposes is that schools of thought are not of importance here but quality of life in terms of social development and empowerment are. The study was conducted by means of three focus groups whereby each focus group had different characteristics. After the focus groups were conducted coding of the information gathered took place so as to facilitate analysis and interpretation. The study found that people are generally happy with the efforts of national government but that the delivery of service by regional and local government does not meet their expectations. It is also clear that the private and NGO sector seem to concentrate on the big urban townships whilst ignoring the plight of rural areas. The road ahead seems to indicate that consultation must take place and be improved with the communities as well as with big business who wish to develop their social responsibility programmes. It is recommended that local government be improved in terms of its effectiveness and responsiveness to its communities. Private sector must also re-assess its role in social development in the communities of its employees. The importance of this is then that government and private sector can work together in partnership in order to accelerate the pace of development. The credibility of government amongst the people as well as the reinforcement of democracy is at stake and the development of impoverished areas by ways of innovative strategies can only benefit all the peoples of our country. / Thesis (MA (Sociology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Sociology / unrestricted

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / A persistent challenge facing especially post-apartheid South African rural municipalities is service delivery compliance. Under the guise of scarcity, rural municipalities repeatedly do not comply with legislation, policies and guidelines for the provision of drinking water and basic sanitation services for the poor. Yet, such challenges concern equity, justice and fairness to social policy and seriously impact the sustainability of livelihood of millions of rural households. The main objective of this study is to analyse the extent to which Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality has complied with or deviated from specific policies and legislation governing the provision of water and sanitation services at the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle (in Zebediela) rural communities and the response of communities. The study was also intended to determine the extent to which water challenges affect the livelihood of the people in the communities. It highlights the refugee-like conditions that millions of South African citizens experience despite official statistics that claim that 86% of the country has access to potable water. A mixed methods design was used for this analysis. The qualitative methods that are used in the study include use of in-depth interviews, site visits, personal stories and the Municipal Integrated Development Programme (IDP). Participatory mapping of water sources; story-telling about water issues; timelines and trend lines by focus group members; transect walks and 7 key informant interviews were used to collect data. A total of 657 quantitative interviews were conducted in three communities. Service delivery compliance has been grossly ineffective and inefficient in Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality, especially in the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle rural communities. The findings were that these rural communities still depend on state-owned boreholes for accessing drinking water, which are regularly broken and/or in disrepair. Sanitation service provision in the rural communities does not comply with the approved policy of providing ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets. New settlements have increased the demand for clean water. Shortages of staff with relevant skills such as management, technicians, and administrators are one of the main reasons why there is a scarce supply of drinking water and basic sanitation services at the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle communities. Inaccessibility to nearby treatment plants for waste disposal services (situation per community) and inaccessible disposal facilities and the use of disposal sites also affect the health conditions of community members within the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality.

Thesis (M.Admin. (Administration and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The local government is the first level of government closest to the people, and it is required under the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to meet the needs of the people in their designated areas. Political and administrative leadership in the municipalities is entrusted with the responsibility of providing public services and managing government resources. Existing literature exhibits that municipal leaders possess certain characteristics that if effectively implemented, may effectively meet the needs of the people. With a distinct focus on Greater Giyani Local Municipality in Limpopo Province, the current study investigates the role of leadership in service delivery in South African municipalities. This study adopts “theory triangulation” as the theoretical points of departure due to its utilisation of four leadership theories (Servant, Transformational, Situational & System leadership theories). Municipal leadership in the Greater Giyani is expected to serve the public by providing high-quality service to the communities. To fulfil the purpose of this study, a mixed method research approach is adopted, which incorporates qualitative and quantitative methods. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data whereas interviews and document analysis were utilised to collect qualitative data. The collected data was then analysed through statistical package for social science. The findings of the study reveal that political and administrative leadership play a role in facilitating service delivery. However, there are also government issues that have to be considered in relation to service delivery, such as insufficient development training programs, and unqualified administrators. Aspects such as lack of understanding and compliance, poor public participation, and lack of adherence to work ethics are found to be amongst factors which hamper service delivery. This study submits that policy makers and managers in the municipalities should be trained in managerial skills. Additionally, the municipal leadership should always adhere to policies related to work ethics and procurement processes. The study also concludes that policy makers and senior managers in the municipalities need to develop relevant policies and strategies to enhance the role of leadership in service delivery in the municipalities.

[pt] Neste artigo, investigamos se a expansão dos investimentos em atenção primária, por meio do Programa Saúde da Família, aumentou o apoio ao prefeito incumbente nas eleições de 2008. A partir de uma descontinuidade no financiamento do programa, pudemos explorar uma variação exógena nos repasses federais e aplicar uma regressão descontínua (RDD). Usando dados administrativos de diversas fontes, obtivemos informação a respeito da implementação do programa, unidades de saúde locais e indicadores de acesso, cobrindo variados aspectos do sistema de saúde brasileiro. Resultados indicam que o programa teve impactos significativos no apoio ao incumbente. Apresentamos, ainda, evidências de que possíveis mecanismos para esse efeito foram avanços no acesso à atendimento ambulatorial e melhoras nos fatores de risco para a mortalidade infantil. Ao todo, este artigo contribui para um melhor entendimento das substanciais mudanças pelas quais o sistema de saúde brasileiro passou e seus potenciais impactos eleitorais, abrindo inúmeras possibilidades para pesquisa futura. / [en] In this study, we investigate whether the expansion of healthcare investments in Brazil, implemented through the Family Health Program (FHP), increased incumbent voting in local elections. We employ a regression discontinuity design by exploring discontinuities in funding that created a quasi-experimental assignment of FHP resources to municipalities. Using administrative data from various sources, we obtain information on program implementation, health outcomes, local-level facilities, and indicators of access, covering several aspects of the Brazilian health system to understand the evolution of underlying health conditions throughout this period. We provide evidence that FHP investments had significant effects on electoral support. Results show that for a 50 percent increment in FHP annual transfers, the incumbent s vote share increases by roughly 9 pp. We also show that possible mechanisms for these electoral effects were better access to primary care and consequent improved outcomes at birth. Overall, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the substantial changes the Brazilian health system has undergone and its potential electoral effects, opening many possibilities for future research.

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This thesis explores the concept of family engagement in education and school-based rehabilitation services and contributes to practice and policy implications. / In pediatric occupational therapy, family-centered service is an essential part of practice. Working with families, occupational therapists facilitate capacity-building to enable parents to participate in their child’s occupational therapy services and make informed choices to best support their child. Family engagement can be particularly challenging in the school-based context, but without this engagement, services are at risk of being less meaningful and impactful for children. In this thesis, I explore the unique nature of the educational context, contribute to the conceptual development of ‘family engagement’, provide an in-depth analysis of family engagement in school-based occupational therapy, and generate stakeholder-informed solutions for occupational therapy practice. The first manuscript depicts a concept analysis that critically analyzes the concept of family engagement as discussed in the education literature. I suggest implications for professionals working with families and children in educational settings, including a proposed definition to contribute to further concept development. In the second manuscript, I present a qualitative description study exploring occupational therapists’ experiences on the development of family-therapist relationships using the Partnering for Change service delivery model. Through analysis of the data, I identify several factors influencing family-therapist relationships and recommend strategies to improve relationship-building. In the last study, I present an interpretive description study exploring family engagement in school-based occupational therapy services from the perspectives of both occupational therapists and families. Based on the findings, I recommend service transformation to improve family engagement, and to increase the value of these services for children and their families. Specific strategies for therapists, organizations, schools, regulatory colleges, and professional practice groups are outlined in this thesis to facilitate family engagement in school-based occupational therapy practice. Ensuring families are able to engage in services may lead to more individualized and impactful services in the school setting. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Pediatric occupational therapists aim to partner with the family in all aspects of a child’s service. However, this is difficult for school-based occupational therapists. Families are not typically present at the school when therapists provide services for children, making it difficult to build relationships. This thesis explores factors that impact on how families are able to engage in the school-setting, and on how to provide families with better support. The first study examines how families engage in children’s education, and what this means for school-based therapists. The second study explores therapists’ views of what influences family-therapist relationships in a school-based service delivery model called Partnering for Change. The final study explores family engagement in school-based occupational therapy from the perspective of both families and therapists. Findings from all three studies contribute to a better understanding of what family engagement means in the school-setting, and how to build stronger family-therapist relationships in school-based occupational therapy services.

Poverty and inequality remain high in South Africa. Social grants are a mechanism implemented by the government to eradicate poverty. Post-apartheid South Africa has achieved significant transformation to adjust the ills imposed by the previous administration. Part of this transformation includes the transformation of the public service to render services effectively, efficiently and ethically. The focus of this study was to investigate how the administration of the Old Age Grants influences the livelihoods of beneficiaries in the Kgautswane rural community. Policy without effective, efficient and ethical implementation is as much use as none at all. The study investigated how policies of social security are implemented by people into practices that influence the quality of lives of beneficiaries. In the past, the use of grants was constrained by the complexity of the application process and onerous documentation requirements. This meant that many of those eligible for grants were not receiving them. Application was also complicated by the fact that the Department of Social Development, responsible for the administration of the grants, had inadequate capacity. In recognition of these constraints, the government endeavoured to simplify the grant administration process by establishing South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), an agency that is responsible for administering social grants. The Department of Social Development retained responsibility for policy development. Alleviating poverty will remain a key challenge for government. Social welfare is a necessity for South Africa as developmental state, but this implies that there is a need for a concerted effort by government to ensure the appropriate administration of this system to the benefit of the country, including the tax payers who fund the system. Beneficiaries remain dependent on the system for their continued livelihood, and the effective, efficient and ethical administration of the system will contribute to the development of a capable state, able to sustain the social contract with its citizens. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015