This study focuses on Local Government restructuring with particular reference to KwaDukuza Municipality. The objectives of the study are firstly, to investigate the challenges facing local government with particular emphasis on local government financing, establishes key factors and challenges facing local government financial management, and lastly, provide a recommended course of direction for effective financial reform, methods of financial restructuring and business re-engineering within the broader context of the South African local government system. The research, design and methodology used in the study involves both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. An extensive range of literature was also consulted during the study. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted with staff and councillors of KwaDukuza Municipality. The findings exemplified in the study of KwaDukuza Municipality are a reflection of the broader set of challenges experienced by most municipalities across the country. Examples cited include debt management, expenditure control, budget reform and restructuring, asset management, financial reporting, procurement, and internal control. The challenges are viewed as pertinent aspects irrespective of the size of the municipality. The recommendations brought forward by the study involve a range of issues including capacity building, staff training and development, institutional capacity, community participation, performance management, monitoring and control, rather the budget as an instrument of empowerment and development. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009.

Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1987.

Man has always been a traveller and in the early days he followed the familiar and well-trodden routes. But man was always in search of the easiest route by following a direct line across a plain, the contours in hilly country or the course of a river. As the traffic developed, so did the function of the road for which the gradient and surface soon became important. Roads were provided as a means of moving people and goods, and as a means of communication. Throughout history, roads have been closely linked with conquest and with social and economic progress. The road infrastructure forms an integral part of the economic development of the country. The problems facing the road authorities can be summed up in one word - money. This problem became serious in 1973 with the initial oil crisis and was followed up by the rapid escalation of costs due to an adverse economical and political environment. As a result there was a reduction in the progress of new roads and a deterioration in the level of service provided by this facility. The aforementioned problem facing the provincial road authorities of a lack of funds to finance the provision and maintenance of the road network, provides a rationale for the area of study, namely the financial administration of the road network, which forms an integral part of the transport infrastructure, with specific reference to Natal. The provincial road network in Natal is funded and controlled by the Roads Branch of the Natal Provincial Administration, whilst the Department of Transport is responsible for the national road network. As a necessary prelude to the area of study, numerous preliminary details are investigated. Initially the development of Provincial Government is investigated. Thereafter the nature of public financial administration is discussed to provide an insight into the functions and processes of this administration. A theoretical perspective is provided on the budgeting systems which are currently in use. The development and classification of the road network in Natal is discussed and is followed by how the rural road network is administered. The current policies from a financial perspective, of the provision and maintenance of the provincial and national road network, is determined. It shows that there is a lack of adequate funds being provided to enable the road authorities to maintain a satisfactory level of service of the road network that is both economical and safe for the road user. The study is concluded with a few recommended strategies which will aid public administrators responsible for the provision and maintenance of the road network to gain an insight into making the most out of the limited resources. The recommended strategies cover the aspects of funding sources, financing policy, road network policy, budget control, and privatisation and deregulation. It is preferable for road financing to be attuned to what the country can afford, and the available road funds should be equitably and rationally distributed according to the physical planning needs. The most advantageous means of collecting money for the funding of road programmes is by means of a dedicated road fund which should be administered by a central road authority, namely the proposed South African Roads Board. It would be this Board's task to execute strategic and financial planning, and also monitor and co-ordinate the provision of roads, of the total road infrastructure in South Africa. The provincial road authorities will continue to execute the provincial road programmes, that is to design, construct and maintain the road network, and would include the national road network. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1988.

It is a hypothesis of this dissertation that the establishment of fully operational, autonomous Black local authorities will contribute to the peace and stability of South Africa and would ultimately have far reaching effects. This hypothesis is based on the postulation that the original establishment of proclaimed Black residential areas was cardinal to the policy of apartheid. This residential separation and other aspects of community life, e..g. employment and mobility, were maintained by legislation and institutions devoted to the application and administration of the legislation were created. This policy extended over a period of nearly four decodes during which the internal and external resistance to an apartheid policy increased with dramatic socio-economic effect. In 1985 Dr Piet Koornhof, South African Ambassador to the United States of America, announced at the press conference in Washington, D.C. that ·apartheid was dead: During the period prior to this statement, 1982 to 1986, enactments viewed as the cornerstone of the separation policy were repealed or amended by new legislation such as; Abolition of Influx Control Act, 1986 (Act 66 of 1966), Abol1tion of Development Bodies Act, 1986 (Act 75 of 1986), Black Communities Development Act, 1964 (Act 4 of 1984). Internally radical elements violently opposed to the government launched a campaign of destruction and intimidation largely confined to the Black residential areas. Generally this has been a Black on Black violence and led to the declaration of a state of emergency on 9 May 1986 which has continued to the present time. An examination of these unfortunate circumstances has led the writer to believe that there must be support in the Block communities for the reform process. It is held that the organisations opposed to any participation in this process have recognised that it could succeed. The ·soft under-belly· is the conditions prevailing in the Black towns and residential areas within the Republic. Official announcements have been made acknowledging that the earlier policy had failed and that a developmental backlog existed which is to be eliminated. The strategy of the subversive elements is to prevent~ or delay~ the improvements so as to exploit the dissatisfaction of the people most affected, the Black communities. Despite the very violent tactics applied under this strategy many Black communities and their leaders participated in the system~ serving on community councils et al. Within Natal there are eighteen formally established Black towns and in the three ye~rs prior to 1968 only three did not have properly functioning community councils. On the announcement that local government elections would be held on 26 October 1988 throughout the country for all local government bodies, predictions were made that these would not succeed, certainly not in the Black areas. These predictions proved to be false and the situation in Natal was that 132 candidates were nominated against a total of 108 vacancies. This and subsequent events showed that there was a willingness to participate. In the period between nominations and election day there was constant and close contact with all eighteen towns and the following impressions were gleaned. 1. The electorate generally was prepared to participate but did not ful1y understand the democratic system of nominations and elections. At many private and public meetings the view was aired that nomination was infact~ the selection of leaders and that no further action was required. The people themselves maintained that the nomination of an unopposed candidate was the total endorsement of that candidate and he could take office immediately. 2. Candidates who had served as community councillors were prepared to accept nomination~ and were supported by their communities~ but did not understand the differences between community councils and local authorities. 3. Both the public and the candidates were sceptical about the real powers and duties of local authority bodies. 4. The attitude was often challenging in that the public and the candidates made it known that they would participate on the basis that after the elections the "government of the people by the people for the greatest good of the greatest number" would have to be demonstrated. One subsequently successful candidate stated that if this did not occur he would step aside for the "forces of revolution". In the event~ the elections in Natal took place without any incident. The highest percentage poll was over 68% and only one of the qualifying towns did not participate. The stage is now set for the further development of Black local authorities. Successful local authority administration will further confound those who 'seek advantage from chaos and anarchy. Efficient and effective administration can only be achieved through the efforts of dedicated officials and members who have the skills to perform their function well. It is not denied that local government per se is the most important level of government because it affects the daily lives of a11. It is accepted that it is in the interest of 011 that all local government bodies be given every assistance to develop , end improve. Historically instability and violent resistance to local government has been experienced on I y in the Black communities. This violence and instability has been exploited and widely publicised overseas in an ongoing campaign to overthrow the government. Clearly the highest priority is the improvement of the Black local authorities and this improvement must involve the people themselves. The long term effects of the development~ training and guidance of the Black people in a system of -government of the people by the people- will be peace and stability nationally. This dissertation deals with the identification of the needs for training~ the support for this training and on indication of what should be done in this regard for the Natal Black local authorities. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1988

No abstract available. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1985.

Staff shortages and lack of space at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi, south of Durban, was blamed for an outbreak of Klebsiella that has claimed the lives of five babies. Contaminated intravenous equipment and poor infection control measures were found to be the source of an outbreak of Klebsiella Pneumoniae, which killed twenty-one babies in another KwaZulu-Natal hospital. "Several flaws were identified" with infection control methods, according to the report that was released and compiled by medical microbiologist Professor Willem Sturm of the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in Durban. Initial investigations at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital north of Durban, found Klebsiella Pneumoniae on the hands of 10% of staff. Interviews revealed that the nursery was usually overcrowded, under-equipped and under-staffed, which worked against adherence to infection control. Early in the investigation at this hospital, a link was found to the babies' intravenous treatment and after other possibilities were ruled out, medication information for seventeen of the babies showed that they had received regular intravenous injections. The spread was attributed to multiple-use of units of the medication to save costs, inadequate hand washing practices and inappropriate hand wash facilities. Recommendations included sealing off the nursery with strict hygiene controls and abandoning the practice of multiple uses of units of intravenous preparations. "Such preparations should be used only once. Multiple-use for one patient should also not be done" Furthermore, long sleeves on gowns, white coats and uniforms, or personal wear should be forbidden, and rings and watches should not be worn on hands and wrists as these interfere with hand washing. Such recommendations, though pertinent, do not disguise the seriousness of this situation in our hospitals. / A case study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Public Administration.

The Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu (INK) area has been the main concern of the eThekwini Municipality. This area has been marked for its poverty and crime rate which is very high and has a bigger population. In terms of the eThekwini Municipality’s Intergrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Local Economic Development (LED) this area needs to fight poverty through providing sustainable programmes that will lead to economic growth and development thus changing the lives of many. There are policies and strategies that the government has embarked on to fight poverty and unemployment in the country but still this pandemic is growing. This study looked at how government has intervened in this community through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This programme is intended for those people who have no employment or any source of income and its aim is to reach the poorest of the poor anywhere in the country. A sample was chosen through the purposeful method from a population frame of all people in the INK area who had worked in the EPWP. The researcher also used community leaders in the area who had been directly involved in the programme. The researcher obtained data from primary sources, which are individuals that were involved in the study. The researcher used both self-administered questionnaires and structured interviews for this study. The interviews were conducted with the community and community leaders. The questionnaires comprised of open-ended and closed-ended questions. The reason for using open-ended questions was to allow respondents a chance to give their opinions and make useful comments. The results are indicative of government strides to reduce poverty. The impact of the programme seems positive. This is mainly because of the knowledge and skills that the beneficiaries gained during the programme. The issue of job creation is still a major challenge in terms of addressing poverty in the INK area. / Thesis (MPA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

No abstract available. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1988.

No Abstract available. / Thesis (M.Pub.Admin.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Abstract not available. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.