Thesis (MPhil) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study describes and analyses the water services education and training
needs of councillors in local authorities in the Northern Cape to enable them
to implement their legislative framework in the new dispensation in South
Africa. It is the proposition of this study that during the transitional period from
1994 to 2003 and thereafter, there is a likelihood of lack of capacity in most
local authorities in the Northern Cape to execute their legislative
requirements. This invariably imposes leadership responsibilities upon a
range of stakeholders and councillors in Local Authorities (LAs), and creates
the need for a redefined model of representation on the part of councillors
"from resemblance to responsibility and responsiveness" (Sartori 1968: 465).
Using literature review to analyse leadership responsibilities of councillors,
four priority education and training (E&T) needs of councillors have been
identified:
• the need to understand water services policy and business cycle within
the context of decentralisation and devolution of powers and functions
• to local government;
• the need for water services business programme management and
planning skills;
• the need to understand community participation in water services
development plans and development processes; and
• the need for conflict-resolution skills.
Based upon inferences drawn from literature evidence, it is concluded that
Local Government (LG) patterns of responses involving the application of
managerial and analytical principles grounded firmly in the twentieth century
Organisational Development (00) and public service management
experience and thoughts, can neither explain nor remedy the complex
variables of Local Government Developmental Agenda (LGDA) and/or the
complex array of water crises that are unfolding in Northern Cape. Thus, for
water services to remain a viable "instrument of humanity" especially at a municipal level, it is concluded that more effective E&T strategies are required
to equip current and future councillors with intellectual water business tools to
address the complex challenges that lie before them. Furthermore, an
Outcomes Based Education (OBE) action-based strategy is offered as an
alternative to the current traditional training approaches in Northern Cape. It is
also clear from the researcher's interpretations and analysis of LGDA
variables that the water services E&T needs and the relevant "gaps" identified
are not simply questions of "how to do things". Rather an OBE action-based
strategy under LGDA processes involves a fundamental reorientation of all
participants in E&T programme for councillors that should be relevant to the
special demands of the Northern Cape LAs and councillors. The researcher
makes recommendations for enriching the sociology of LG studies, to match
the skills requirements, given the complexity of LGDA and numerous
challenges for competent and innovative councillors in LAs.
Finally, this study is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to complement a
number of education and training initiatives commissioned or under
preparation by water sector stakeholders in line with Skill Development Act of
1998 and SAQA of 1995 (South African Qualifications Act) processes.
KEYWORDS:
Best Value Regime, Local Government Developmental Agenda, Spheres of
government; local government; socio-economic & political dynamics in
transition; decentralisation; constitutional powers and functions of local
government; education and training (E&T) needs of councillors in water
services; Northern Cape Province. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie beskryf en ontleed die behoefte aan onderwys en opleiding
(E&T) by raadslede in plaaslike owerhede in die Noordkaap, om hul moeilike
taak te kan verrig in In veranderende beleidsomgewing in Suid Afrika. Die
studie besin daaroor dat daar waarskynlik gedurende die oorgangstydperk
vanaf 1994 tot 2003 en ook daarna, In tekort aan bevoedgheid om hul
funksies te vervul, by heelwat plaaslike owerhede in die Noordkaap bestaan.
Dit is deels In gevolg daarvan dat nuwe verantwoordelikhede op die skouers
van die rolspelers en raadslede in plaaslike owerhede geplaas word. Die
nuwe rol van raadslede word herdefinieer vanaf verteenwoordiging na
verantwoording en optrede; "from resemblance to responsibility and
responsiveness" (Sartori 1968: 465).
Vier belangrike areas waar onderwys- en opleidingsbehoeftes ten opsigte van
die leierskapsprofiel van Raadslede bestaan, is op grond van In literatuuroorsig
ge'identifiseer:
• die belangrikheid daarvan om beleid- en besigheidsaspekte van die
lewering van waterdienste te verstaan teen die agtergrond van
desentralisering en stelselmatige afwenteling van magte en funksies na
die plaaslike owerheidsvlak;
• die behoefte wat bestaan aan bestuurs- en beplanningsvaardighede
met betrekking tot waterdienste en water-ekonomiese aspekte;
• In begrip van die rol van die plaaslike gemeenskap in beplanning en
uitvoer van ontwikkelingsprojekte vir die lewering van waterdienste;
• konflikhanteringsvaardighede.
Na aanleiding van die getuienis uit hierdie literatuurstudie word dit duidelik dat
die heersende reaksie- en besluitnemingstyle van Plaaslike Owerheid (LG)
wat spruit uit beginsels van organisasie ontwerp (00) wat dateer uit die vorige
eeu en die staatsdienservaring en -denke van daardie era, nie die komplekse
veranderlikes van die nuwe Plaaslike Owerheid Ontwikkelingsagenda (LGDA)
kan verduidelik of aanspreek nie, en dus nie geskik is om In dreigende krisis
in die Noordkaap te af te weer nie. am waterdienste in die toekoms as 'n voertuig vir die opheffing van
agtergeblewe gemeenskappe te kan gebruik, veral op plaaslike
owerheidsvlak, is dit belangrik dat huidige en toekomstige raadslede deur
middel van effektiewe onderwys - en opleidingstrategiee toegerus word met
water-ekonomie kennis en vaardighede. Sodoende sal hulle die komplekse
uitdagings wat aan hulle gestel word, die hoof kan bied. 'n Aksie-gerigte
strategie gefundeer op 'n uitkomsgebaseerde (aBE) kurrikulum, word
voorgestel as plaasvervanger vir die huidige tradisionele onderwysbenadering
in die Noordkaap. Dit is duidelik uit die outeur se interpretasie en ontleding
van LGDA veranderlikes, dat die ge"identifiseerde onderwys- en opleidings
behoeftes en gapings 'n heeltemal nuwe benadering vereis. Die benadering
behels 'n deurdagte herorienterinq tot opleidingsprogramme vir raadslede in
plaaslike owerhede (LG) in die Noordkaap. Die studie dra by tot die
sosiologie van plaaslike owerheidstudie, en wys op die vaardighede,
vermoens en innovasie-eienskappe van raadslede wat benodig word om die
kompleksiteit van LGDA en die uitdagings in plaaslike owerhede aan te
spreek.
Ten slotte is die studie nie bedoel om volledig te wees nie maar om wei 'n
bydrae te lewer tot die onderwys- en opleidingsinisiatiewe wat voortspruit uit
die aksies van belanghebbendes in die water sektor in ooreenstemming met
die Wet op Vaardigheidsontwikkeling (1998) en SAKWA (1995).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49825 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Tsibani, Fumene George |
| Contributors | Groenewald, C. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 134 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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