Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since its inception the Community Development Worker Programme (CDWP) seeks to
promote cooperative governance within the context of the Intergovernmental Relations
Framework. In pursuit of a holistic approach to development Community Development
Workers (CDWs) strive for effectiveness in their role as change agents.
This case study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of CDWs as change agents in
pursuit of a holistic approach to development in the Western Cape. This was a qualitative
study using participatory action research as a CDW in the West Coast; semi-structured
interviews with Dedicated Officials from municipalities in the Cape Winelands Region, City
of Cape Town and West Coast Region; focus groups with community members and
stakeholders from Kayamandi in the Cape Winelands Region, Eerste River in the City of
Cape Town and various towns in the West Coast Region; focus group and semi-structured
interviews with Supervisors from the City of Cape Town, West Coast Region and Cape
Winelands Region. Questionnaires were completed by Regional Coordinators from the West
Coast Region, City of Cape Town, Overberg Region and Central Karoo Region; and
questionnaires were completed by CDWs from the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands
Region, West Coast Region, Central Karoo Region and Overberg Region in the Western
Cape. The findings of the research reveal that the CDWP has made tremendous progress since its
inception. Regional Coordinators, supervisors and CDWs have a very good grasp of what is
expected of them as change agents. The responses from the community also revealed much
appreciation and support for the work done by CDWs in their role as change agents. The
effectiveness of CDWs in their role of change agents in pursuit of a holistic approach to
development is rated to be between 6-8 on a scale of 1-10; with ten being the highest. There is
room for improvement however as the findings indicate that there are several cases where
CDWs experience isolation and frustration and are challenged in their pursuit of holistic
development as they are hampered by a lack of adequate resources; a lack of access to
budgets; a lack of support, cooperation and political interference from ward councillors and
politicians; a lack of understanding, appreciation, cooperation and support from local government and a sense of belonging at local municipal level in many instances amongst
others.
Although the research reveals that the province is effective in its pursuit of a holistic approach
to sustainable community development on the part of CDWs as change agents, the researcher
wishes to argue that improved collaboration needs to take place amongst the various levels of
governments, government departments, development agencies and the beneficiaries of
development themselves to further maximise the efforts and effectiveness of CDWs in their
role as change agents. The building blocks of development and the Batho Pele Principles must
also be more consistently applied and attentively addressed and diligently implemented by all
the stakeholders in the development process in order to improve service delivery and enhance
more effective community development to the benefit of the community at grassroots whilst
meeting local, national and provincial development targets. The challenge to each of us as change agents is therefore to do our all towards reconstruction,
community development and equal opportunities for all. We all have to be accountable and
answer the question as to what we are doing concerning community development, namely
education; poverty relief; service delivery; etc. in our own communities. We need to
acknowledge where we have come from, where we are now and where we are going. Much
progress has already been made despite a lack of funding, facilities and resources. More
sacrifices must still be made however to ensure a better life for all. The issue is around
respect, irrespective of who you are dealing with. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Van sy ontstaan af probeer die Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkerprogram (GOWP)
koöperatiewe bestuur in die konteks van die Tussenregeringsverhoudingsraamwerk bevorder.
Gemeenskapsontwikkelingswerkers (GOW’s) streef na effektiwiteit in hul rol as
veranderingsagente om ’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling te volg.
Hierdie gevallestudie is uitgevoer om die effektiwiteit van GOW’s as veranderingsagente wat
’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling in die Wes-Kaap nastreef te bepaal. Dit was ’n
kwalitatiewe studie met gebruik van deelnemende aksienavorsing as ’n GOW in die Weskus;
halfgestruktureerde onderhoude met toegewyde amptenare van munisipaliteite in die Kaapse
Wynlandstreek, Stad Kaapstad en Weskusstreek; fokusgroepe met gemeenskapslede en
belanghebbendes uit Kayamandi in die Kaapse Wynlandstreek, Eersterivier in die Stad
Kaapstad en verskeie dorpe in die Weskusstreek; fokusgroep- en halfgestruktureerde
onderhoude met toesighouers uit die Stad Kaapstad, Weskusstreek en Kaapse Wynlandstreek.
Vraelyste is deur streekskoördineerders van die Weskusstreek, Stad Kaapstad, die
Overbergstreek en Sentraal Karoostreek ingevul; en vraelyste is deur die GOW’s van die Stad
Kaapstad, Kaapse Wynlandstreek, Weskusstreek, Sentraal Karoostreek en Overbergstreek in
die Wes-Kaap ingevul. Die bevindings van die navorsing toon dat die GOWP sedert sy ontstaan geweldige vordering
gemaak het. Streekskoördineerders, toesighouers en GOW’s het ’n baie goeie begrip van wat
as veranderingsagente van hulle verwag word. Die reaksies van die gemeenskap het ook
groot waardering en ondersteuning getoon vir die werk wat deur die GOW’s in hulle rol as
veranderingsagente gedoen word. Die effektiwiteit van GOW’s in hul rol as
veranderingsagente wat ’n holistiese benadering tot ontwikkeling nastreef word beskou as 6-8
op ’n skaal van 1 tot 10, met tien as die hoogste punt. Daar is egter ruimte vir verbetering
aangesien die bevindings aandui dat daar verskeie gevalle is waar GOW’s isolasie en
frustrasie ondervind en uitgedaag word in hulle nastrewing van holistiese ontwikkeling weens
onder andere ’n gebrek aan toereikende hulpbronne; ’n gebrek aan toegang tot begrotings; ’n
gebrek aan ondersteuning en samewerking en die politieke inmenging van wyksraadslede en
politici; ’n gebrek aan begrip, waardering, samewerking en ondersteuning van die plaaslike
regering en ’n gevoel van tuis hoort op plaaslike munisipale vlak in baie gevalle. Hoewel die navorsing toon dat die provinsie effektief is in sy nastrewing van ’n holistiese
benadering tot volhoubare gemeenskapsontwikkeling aan die kant van GOW’s as
veranderingsagente, wil die navorser aanvoer dat beter samewerking op die verskillende
vlakke van regering, regeringsdepartemente, ontwikkelingsliggame en die begunstigdes van
ontwikkeling moet plaasvind om die pogings en effektiwiteit van GOW’s in hul rol as
veranderingsagente verder te versterk. Die boustene van ontwikkeling en die Batho Pelebeginsels
moet deur al die belanghebbendes in die ontwikkelingsproses meer konsekwent
toegepas, noulettend gehanteer en toegewyd geïmplementeer word om dienslewering te
verbeter en meer effektiewe gemeenskapsontwikkeling in belang van die gemeenskap op
grondvlak te bewerkstellig terwyl dit aan plaaslike, nasionale en provinsiale
ontwikkelingsteikens voldoen.
Die uitdaging aan elkeen van ons as veranderingsagente is dus om alles moontlik te doen in
belang van rekonstruksie, gemeenskapsontwikkeling en gelyke geleenthede vir almal. Ons
moet almal aanspreeklik wees en die vraag beantwoord oor wat ons doen omtrent
gemeenskapsontwikkeling, naamlik onderwys, armoedeverligting, dienslewering, ens. in ons
eie gemeenskappe. Ons moet erken waar ons vandaan kom, waar ons nou is en waar ons
heengaan. Baie vordering is reeds gemaak ten spyte van ’n gebrek aan befondsing, fasiliteite
en hulpbronne. Meer opofferings moet egter nog gemaak word om n beter lewe vir almal te
verseker. Dit gaan oor respek, ongeag met wie jy handel.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86482 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Martin, Wilhemina |
| Contributors | Theron, Francois, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xi, 149 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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