This research presents a novel method to assess the availability and geographic accessibility of Thusong Service Centres and Thusong Service Clusters in Limpopo province. The distances that people in urban and rural areas travel to their nearest Thusong Service Centre or Cluster were compared. Accessibility in rural areas was optimised by identifying additional locations where accessibility was inadequate and where the establishment of additional Thusong Service Centres and Clusters could improve accessibility. The novel method to measure geographic accessibility considers factors such as population size and density, as well as the availability of roads. Since rural areas in Limpopo province tend to have limited road infrastructure, people are likely to travel between settlements on unofficial trails and footpaths that are not mapped. To include an approximated representation of these trails and footpaths in the overall travel network, a triangular irregular network was created to connect rural settlements to each other, as well as to the road network. Natural barriers, such as mountain ranges and large rivers or dams were also considered. Optimal locations were identified through different facility location procedures in a geographic information system. The objective was to identify the minimum number of additional locations for Service Centres that would maximise accessibility in the province. Results emanating from this research indicate that accessibility to Thusong Service Centres and Clusters is uneven between urban and rural settlements. People in rural areas need to travel significantly further to their nearest Service Centre compared to those living in urban areas. In order to increase accessibility in rural areas and to achieve a more equitable distribution of Service Centres across the province, five optimal locations were identified. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MA / Unrestricted

Much discourse on the issue of development communication has focused on participation and its role in improving the lives of developing communities. This line of thought emanates from the theories of Paulo Freire and Martin Buber. Freirean dialogue, which emphasises dialogue and conscientisation emanated from Martin Buber's l-Thou and l-lt relationships and are relevant in this study because these concepts are pivotal in the endeavour to develop grassroots communities. For purposes of this study participatory communication is associated with dialogue, self-reliance, empowerment, the communities' socio-cultural context and strategic communication. In an effort to improve service delivery in the public sector, the South African government resolved to provide communities across South Africa with both information and services through the establishment of Thusong Service Centres. The Thusong concept refers to 'a place to get help or assistance' in Sesotho, and has been the focus of government in carrying out its mandate in respect of development communication in South Africa. This study adopted a qualitative research approach to gather data, to determine how the communication of Thusong Service Centres in Tshwane compare with the normative principles of participatory development communication. This study used purposive sampling and focused on the six Thusong Service Centres in Tshwane. The empirical study comprised document analyses of government policies, semi-structured interviews with senior Government Communication and Information Services (GCIS) personnel and personal observations at the six Thusong Service Centres. An analysis of the communication of Thusong Service Centres with Tshwane communities show that there is inadequate alignment with the theoretical underpinnings of participatory development communication. Against the backdrop of Chin Saik Yoon's four ways of observing participation in development projects, namely, participation in implementation, evaluation, benefit and decision-making, the study indicates that Tshwane communities do not partake in participation in evaluation and participation in decision-making. Furthermore, using Freirean dialogue as a benchmark, it was concluded that Thusong Service Centres do not fully meet the required principles of dialogue. Although the abovementioned results indicate that development communication practised by GCIS at Thusong Service Centres is in the main linear in nature, the study makes practical recommendations on how the normative principles of participatory development communication may be implemented at these centres in order to fast track the development process. / Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Much discourse on the issue of development communication has focused on participation and its role in improving the lives of developing communities. This line of thought emanates from the theories of Paulo Freire and Martin Buber. Freirean dialogue, which emphasises dialogue and conscientisation emanated from Martin Buber's l-Thou and l-lt relationships and are relevant in this study because these concepts are pivotal in the endeavour to develop grassroots communities. For purposes of this study participatory communication is associated with dialogue, self-reliance, empowerment, the communities' socio-cultural context and strategic communication. In an effort to improve service delivery in the public sector, the South African government resolved to provide communities across South Africa with both information and services through the establishment of Thusong Service Centres. The Thusong concept refers to 'a place to get help or assistance' in Sesotho, and has been the focus of government in carrying out its mandate in respect of development communication in South Africa. This study adopted a qualitative research approach to gather data, to determine how the communication of Thusong Service Centres in Tshwane compare with the normative principles of participatory development communication. This study used purposive sampling and focused on the six Thusong Service Centres in Tshwane. The empirical study comprised document analyses of government policies, semi-structured interviews with senior Government Communication and Information Services (GCIS) personnel and personal observations at the six Thusong Service Centres. An analysis of the communication of Thusong Service Centres with Tshwane communities show that there is inadequate alignment with the theoretical underpinnings of participatory development communication. Against the backdrop of Chin Saik Yoon's four ways of observing participation in development projects, namely, participation in implementation, evaluation, benefit and decision-making, the study indicates that Tshwane communities do not partake in participation in evaluation and participation in decision-making. Furthermore, using Freirean dialogue as a benchmark, it was concluded that Thusong Service Centres do not fully meet the required principles of dialogue. Although the abovementioned results indicate that development communication practised by GCIS at Thusong Service Centres is in the main linear in nature, the study makes practical recommendations on how the normative principles of participatory development communication may be implemented at these centres in order to fast track the development process. / Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.