Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research report investigates the theoretical foundation of the understanding of
decision-makers at local government level of the term "development", with specific
reference to local government as development agent and Local Economic
Development. The choice of theoretical model by these decision-makers to
conceptualise their understanding has historical and analytical antecedents, and
secondly, the decision-maker is faced with a basic dualism in developmental thinking,
ie. the emphasis on universalism (global competitiveness) on the one hand and the
need for specificity (local economic development) on the other. The theoretical
principles and assumptions on which the neoliberal and market-orientated approach to
development is based are incorporated in the macroeconomic policy approach 'Growth,
Employment and Redistribution' in South Africa. This approach has recently
overshadowed the social welfarist developmental approach represented by the
'Reconstruction and Development Program' or Sustainable Human Development. The
basis for specific policy formulation and intervention strategies are found in the
theoretical assumptions, goals and objectives in each of these alternate approaches to
development.
The research design for the study is primarily qualitative. A semi-structured interview
schedule is applied in directing in-depth interviews with identified central decisionmakers
in metropolitan and larger "B" municipalities. The research design and process
is constructed around three themes based on current and historic analysis of
development thinking as a means to address poverty and inequality: theme 1 -
theoretical understanding of the term development, Economic Growth in the formal
sector versus Sustainable Human Development; theme 2 - the nature and relevance
of participation by civil society in the Local Economic Development (LEO) process; and
theme 3- Local Economic Development and the role of infrastructure investment, land
use planning and zoning as intervention strategy. A benchmark position is developed
on local government as development agent and LEO, using various sources, for
example, interview with Director-General in the Department of Provincial and Local Government dealing with Local Economic Development, the Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa and legislative acts and policy papers relevant to LED. This
position is compared with the position held by local government decision-makers
dealing with LED.
The analysis of the information collected suggests that the theoretical perspective and
policy framework on development, participation and strategies to address inequality and
poverty, ie Sustainable Human Development (researchers title) held by the Department
of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) is not compatible with the definition and
understanding of the majority of the decision-makers at local government level dealing
directly with LED. The notion of participative development with anti-poverty strategies
focussed on poor urban citizenry at the local level is not seen as the relevant theoretical
or applied focus by developmental decision-makers at municipal level. In addition,
limited knowledge is available to local government decision-makers on both formal and
informal economic activity. In this regard, de facto leadership has already been handed
over to formal-economy organisations and institutions. The idea of using land-use
planning and zoning regulations to reorientate economic activity to low- and informal
housing settlements and the reconstitution of low-and informal housing as sites of
manufacture utilising flexible specialisation principles was positively received. However,
the respondents were either not knowledgeable about these principles, for example;
Globalisation of production and flexible production processes, or had not considered
them in relation to their planning, land use or zoning and development functions.
In the light of the above, the notion of local government as development agent with
specific reference to addressing poverty and inequality utilising the Local Economic
Development process as envisaged by the Department of Provincial and Local
Government does not have the majority support of decision-makers at city and metro
level. The majority of respondents defined the process of consultation as limited to
formal economic sectors that were/could be competitive in the new global economy.
The majority of decision-makers hold the view that the redefinition and location of sites
of economic activity could be delegated to these formal sector organisations and
institutions. Their common understanding of development and the related intervention
strategies was based on formal sector growth and related job creation strategies, as well as the "trickle-down" of resources and opportunities to the informal sector. If they
wish to remain relevant in this context the Department of Provincial and Local
Government has to develop intervention strategies to reorientate and redefine the
theoretical and applied definition of development held by the decision-makers especially
with regard to Local Economic Development. If these issues are not addressed the form
and shape of South Africa cities and metros will be based on the entrenchment and
escalation of economic dualism and exclusion of the poor from any developmental
decision-making and strategies. This has serious implications for the development of
local democracies and developmental institutions based on the formulation and
understanding of local conditions and circumstances of poverty and inequality and
holds serious implications for social stability in the South African metros and
municipalities in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingsverslag ondersoek die teoretiese begronding van die begrip wat
besluitnemers op plaaslike regeringsvlak het van die term "ontwikkeling "met spesifieke
verwysing na plaaslike regering as ontwikkelingsagent en Plaaslike Ekonomiese
Ontwikkeling. Die keuse van teoretiese modelle deur hierdie besluitnemers het
historiese en analitiese voorlopers en tweedens, word die besluitnemer in die gesig
gestaar deur 'n basiese dualisme in ontwikkelingsdenke, die klem op universalisme
(globale kompeterendheid) aan die een kant en die behoefte aan spesifiekheid
(plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling) aan die ander kant. Die teoretiese beginsels en
aannames waarop die neoliberale en markgeorienteerde benaderings tot ontwikkeling
berus, word gei"nkorporeer in die makro-ekonomiese benadering "Groei,
Werkverskaffing en Herverdeling" (GEAR) in Suid Afrika. Hierdie benadering het
onlangs die sosiale welsynsontwikkelingsbenadering, wat verleenwoordig is deur die
"Heropbou en Ontwikkelingsprogram" (HOP) of Volhoubare Menslike Ontwikkeling, in
die skadu gestel. Die basis vir spesifieke beleidsvorming en intervensiestrategiee word
gevind in die teoretiese aannames, doelwitte en doelstellings in elk van hierdie
altematiewe benaderings tot ontwikkeling.
Die navorsingsontwerp vir hierdie studie is primer kwalitatief. 'n Semi-gestruktureerde
onderhoudskedule word toegepas am rigting te gee aan in-diepte onderhoude met
geidentifiseerde sentrale besluitnemers in metropolitaanse en groter "B" munisipaliteite.
Die navorsingsontwerp en proses is gekonstrueer rondom drie temas wat gebaseer is
op huidige en historiese analise van ontwikkelingsdenke as 'n manier waarop armoede
en ongelykheid aangespreek kan word: tema 1 - teoretiese begrip van die term
ontwikkeling, ekonomiese groei in die formele sektor teenoor Volhoubare Menslike
Ontwikkeling; tema 2 - die aard en relevansie van deelname deur die siviele
samelewing en die Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkelingsproses (PEO); en tema 3 -
Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling en die rol van infrastruktuurbelegging,
grondgebruikbeplaning en sonering as 'n intervensie-strategie. 'n Beginpuntposisie
word ontwikkel oar plaaslike regering en PEO deur gebruik te maak van verskeie
bronne, byvoorbeeld, onderhoude met die Direkteur-Generaal in die Deparlement van
Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering gemoeid met Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling
(PEO) , die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid Afrika en wetgewing en beleidskrifte
relevant tot PEO. Hierdie posisie word vergelyk met die posisie wat ingeneem word
deur plaaslike regeringsbestuurbesluitnemers gemoeid met PEO.
Die analise van die inligting wat ingesamel is suggereer dat die teoretiese perspektief
en beleidsraamwerk oor ontwikkeling, deelname en strategiee om ongelykheid en
armoede aan te spreek, die Volhoubare Menslike Ontwikkeling (navorserstitel) wat
gehuldig word deur die Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering (DPPR) nie
versoenbaar is met die definisie en begrip van die meerderheid van die besluitnemers
op plaaslike regeringsvlak wat direk gemoeid is met PEO nie. Die idee van
deelnemende ontwikkeling met anti-armoede strategiee wat gefokus is op arm stedelike
burgers op plaaslike vlak word nie deur die ontwikkelingsbesluitnemers op munisipale
vlak beskou as die relevante oftoegepaste fokus nie. Bykomend is beperkte kennis tot
beskikking van plaaslike regeringsbesluitnemers oor beide formele en informele
ekonomiese aktiwiteite. In hierdie verband is de facto leierskap alreeds oorhandig aan
formele ekonomiese organisasies en instellings. Die idee van die gebruik van
grondgebruik- en soneringsregulasies om ekonomiese aktiwiteite tot lae en informele
behuisingsnedersetfings te herorienteer en die hersamestelling van lae en informele
behuising as plekke vir vervaardiging deur gebruik te maak van buigbare
spesialiseringsbeginsels is goed ontvang. Die respondente was egter nie ingelig oor
hierdie beginsels, of hulle het weggelaat om hierdie beginsels in berekening te bring by
hul beplanning, grondgebruik of sonering en ontwikkelingsfunksies.
In die lig van bogenoemde het die idee van plaaslike regering as ontwikkelingsagent
met spesifieke verwysing tot die aanspreek van armoede en ongelykheid, deur gebruik
te maak van die Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkelingsproses, soos in die vooruitsig
gestel deur die Departement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering, nie die
meerderheidsteun van besluitnemers op staats- en metrovlak nie. Die meerderheid van
die respondente het die proses van beraadslaging gedefinieer as beperk tot die formele
ekonomiese sektore wat kompeterend was of kan wees in die nuwe globale ekonomie.
Die meerderheid van hierdie besluitnemers is van mening dat die herdefiniering en
plasing van plekke van ekonomiese aktiwiteite gedelegeer kan word aan hierdie
formele sektororganisasies en instellings. Hierdie gedeelde begrip van ontwikkeling en verbandhoudende intervensie-strategiee was gebaseer op groei in die formele sektor
en verbandhoudende werkskeppingstrategiee, asook die "afsyfering" van bronne en
geleenthede na die informele sektor. As dit hul wens is om in hierdie konteks relevant
te bly, moet die Oepartement van Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering intervensiestrategiee
ontwikkel om die teoretiese en toegepaste definisie van ontwikkeling, wat
gehuldig word deur besluitnemers, veral met betrekking tot Plaaslike Ekonomiese
Ontwikkeling te herorienteer en te herdefineer. Indien hierdie aangeleenthede nie
aangespreek word nie sal die vorm en fatsoen van Suid-Afrikaanse stede en metros
gebaseer wees op die verskansing en uitbreiding van ekonomiese dualisme en die
uitsluiting van die armes van enige ontwikkelingsbesluitneming en strategie. Oit het
ernstige implikasies vir die ontwikkeling van plaaslike demokrasie en
ontwikkelingsinstellings gebaseer op die formulering en begrip van plaaslike toestande
en omstandighede van armoede en ongelykheid en hou ernstige implikasies in vir die
sosiale stabiliteit in die Suid-Afrikaanse metros en munisipaliteite in die toekoms.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20929 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Noble, Hugo Robert |
| 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 | 264 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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