- Title
- Enhancing the accountability of ward councillors through public participation in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Creator
- Ngeni, Siphiwo Christopher
- Subject
- Local government -- South Africa -- Buffalo City -- Citizen participation
- Subject
- Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Subject
- Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Subject
- Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Date Issued
- 2013
- Date
- 2013
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- vital:8292
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d10186906
- Description
- In terms of section 152(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 local government should provide a democratic and accountable service to local communities. Therefore, elected representatives and municipal officials must be accountable for their actions. This study investigates the influence of public participation in enhancing the accountability of ward councillors in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). For the purpose of the study, the hypothesis was formulated that accountability of ward councillors is hampered by improper public participation mechanisms in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). In order to achieve the goal of this study and to test the hypothesis, it was essential to review literature on the accountability of ward councillors and public participation in local government. Primary data was obtained by interviewing ward committees and ward councillors from Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Interviews were conducted with ward councillors and ward committees in wards 13 and 14 of BCMM. The major findings of the study, inter alia, are that ward councillors give feedback to their constituencies. Ward committees are instrumental in encouraging members of the public to attending these meetings. The most popular forum for public participation is the Independent Development Planning (IDP). It was established that approachability, accessibility and visibility of both ward councillors and ward committees in the community enhance public participation. The study concludes with recommendations that will assist the BCMM to enhance the accountability of ward councillors through public participation.
- Format
- x, 107 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Arts
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
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NMMU School of Governmental and Social Sciences
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