Public participation in policy-making and implementation is an integral part of
public administration and an essential ingredient of community development
and democracy.
This study describes, analyses and evaluates the role played by public
participation in policy-making and implementation in South Africa, with specific
reference to the Port Elizabeth Municipality.
It investigates how the process of public participation in policy-making and
implementation can be strengthened and made more fluid. The levels of
knowledge regarding legislation, institutions and processes of public
interaction with the legislative and policy-making and implementation
institutions, and the intention to participate in these processes, are regarded
as important. Among others, the concept participation and the impact of the
process of public participation as well as the extent of awareness of the South
African public with regard to its democratic rights ar:id freedom and newly
acquired opportunities of interaction in policy-making and implementation are
examined. The issues of concern in which the South African public would like
to participate are also examined.
In order to make meaningful decisions about public needs and demands,
policy makers and implementers should obtain current information about such
needs and demands. Public participation is an appropriate mechanism for
conveying such information and should therefore be encouraged and
preserved. It appears that the constitutional and legislative framework is an
appropriate instrument for this purpose. However, in order to facilitate the
development of the culture of participation, other prerequisites of public
participation should not be forgotten.
A lack of information about the process of public participation and a dearth of
literature on the subject of public participation are among the challenges
facing South Africa. The investigation indicates that there is lack of knowledge
about institutions and legislation, as well as illiteracy and inadequate
participation skills.
Although Constitutional and statutory provisions reflect good intentions about
public participation, with low levels of knowledge about such provisions and
inadequate interaction between public participation and policy-making and
implementation, a fluid process of participation which could deepen, broaden
and sustain democracy would remain a utopian ideal. However, various
mechanisms, by which this scenario could be addressed, could be devised
and implemented. / Public Administration / D. Admin
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/18142 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Masango, Reuben |
| Contributors | Auriacombe, C. J., Nealer, E. J. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (xi, 259 leaves) |
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