An analysis of the politics-administrative interface and its impact on delivery of municipal services: a case of the Mnquma Local Municipality
- Authors: Ndudula, Mziwoxolo Rutherford
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , City council members -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Politicians -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11659 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007043 , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , City council members -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Politicians -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Communication in community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Eastern Cape -- South Africa -- Politics and government
- Description: The study took a qualitative approach to the analysis of the effect of the politics-administrative interface on municipal service delivery. It was a case study of the Mnquma local municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. The researcher developed a keen interest in researching on the topic because the political infighting and clashes between politicians and administrators of the municipality have caused a public outcry for the root causes of the infighting to be effectively addressed and redressed. It is hoped that the findings and recommendations of the study will help, reshape public policy implementation, service delivery and fostering of mutual cooperative relations between politicians and administrators both at local government level and any other sphere of government in South Africa. The study, is categorized into five chronological chapters, with chapter one (introduction and background), chapter two (literature review), chapter three (research design and methodology), chapter four (data analysis, interpretation and presentation) and chapter five (conclusions and recommendations). The researcher used a sample size of 40 respondents who were selected using snowball sampling, a non-random sampling design spread accordingly over both politicians and administrators. Data collection was made possible through an open-ended questionnaire, interviews, observations and documentary analysis. Various reports and media statements were also used to augment this empirical study. The study also used an in-depth qualitative data analysis technique which was descriptive in nature and the study made numerous deductions and findings based on the collected and collated data. Findings of the study were, inter alia, too much politicization of the public sector, interference between politicians and administrators into each other’s affairs and vice versa and adverse effects of cadre deployment which are damaging service delivery. The study made numerous recommendations which included, inter alia, training and development of administrators and politicians on their respective roles and responsibilities, enforcement of the politics-administrative interface as a mutually beneficial approach to service delivery, need for proper interpretation of Acts and policy documents and the enforcing of section 139 interventions into municipalities.
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- Date Issued: 2013
An investigation of public participation in municipal planning and performance evaluation: a case study of Mnquma Local Municipality
- Authors: Mkentane, Benjamin Zolile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11671 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007119 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal officials and employees -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Performance -- Evaluation , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The participation of communities and community organizations in Municipal governance is set in terms of the law as a mechanism to deepen democracy. Municipalities are required to develop a culture of governance that complements representative democracy with community participation. However the participation of communities in local governance has not translated to the strengthening of governance and the deepening of democracy as municipalities have not done enough to involve communities in municipal affaires. Lack of human resources, and financial capacity have been cited as some of the reasons that beset municipalities and undermine citizen participation. Municipalities have taken steps to encourage community participation and these include establishment of structures to enable participation, however without the guidance and financial support of the municipalities these structures are not able to perform their functions. In spite of all the efforts made by municipalities to encourage participation, a culture of community participation has not yet taken root in local government. While the legislative framework provides for communities to participate, practice shows that the implementation of legislation is complex and requires dedicated capacities within the councils to be effective. This can be achieved when municipalities develop their own community participation policies which address their special circumstances, which must be reviewed on a regular basis. Unless communities are empowered with knowledge on the available participation mechanisms, the dream of a culture of participation will remain just that, a dream. Thus civic education coupled with capacity building of officials will assist in ensuring the development of a culture of participation. Council must also develop mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of community participation processes and procedures, to avoid a one size fits all approach. It is imperative that councils as the legislative arm of municipalities must lead the process and not leave everything to the executive arm.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Assessing financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Maclean, Sindisile
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (in Public Administration)
- Identifier: vital:11661 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007093 , Finance, Public -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , South Africa -- Economic policy , South Africa -- Economic conditions
- Description: The purpose of the research is to assess the financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Municipalities that are not financially viable and sustainable will always struggle to deliver basic services to communities. Without sound financial management systems, municipalities will be forced to discontinue their operations. Municipalities, particularly small and rural ones, are not self-sufficient and often rely on grants and transfers to satisfy their immediate short-term goal of providing basic services to satisfy the needs of their communities. Therefore, finance is regarded as an overriding and decisive factor for determining the viability of municipalities. The study seeks to investigate the financial viability of selected urban and rural municipalities in the Eastern Cape. Its key research questions are: Are municipalities able to provide sufficient funds to provide a range of services at an acceptable service level? To what extent do municipalities rely on external funding? Do municipalities have revenue collection capacity and revenue policies? The study asserts that most municipalities lack the required financial resources. They depend mainly on transfers from Provincial Government and equitable share and conditional grants from National Government. Section 152 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 8 of 1996, states, amongst other things, that Local Government should ensure the provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner. The constitution further states that a municipality must strive, within its financial and administrative capacity, to achieve its objectives. The Municipal Finance Management Act, Act 56 of 2003, creates a framework for municipalities to borrow money and determine the conditions for short- and long-term borrowing. The Act assigns clear roles and responsibilities to the various role players involved in local government financial management. According to the Act, an annual budget for a municipality may only be funded from realistically anticipated revenues to be collected. As revenue projections in the budget must be realistic, the Municipal Property Rates Act, Act 6 of 2004, facilitates the collection of revenue in municipalities and establishes a uniform property rating system across South Africa. Property tax is the biggest element of local government tax revenue and is central to municipal finance. The Municipal Systems Act, Act 32 of 2000, amongst its objectives, provides for the manner in which municipal powers and functions are exercised as well as establishes a simple framework for the core processes of planning, performance management and resource mobilisation. The Act also provides a framework for public administration and human resource development. Finally, it also empowers the poor and ensures that municipalities put in place service tariffs and credit control policies that take their needs into account. The research contends that, whilst there is legislation and structures to assist and direct municipalities, it has been established that municipalities do not properly collect rates and taxes due to them to augment their revenue. The study has shown nevertheless that metropolitan municipalities have the capacity to collect revenue for municipal services. This is confirmed by their collection rate which ranges between 94 % and 97 %. There is also the culture of non-payment by communities for services rendered by the municipalities. Rural municipalities are exempted from property tax, while other rural municipalities who have an urban component, have to collect. There is also the question of unemployment and poverty. Consequently, municipalities are not self-sufficient and rely on grants and equitable share to survive. As a result of this lack of self-sufficiency, it is difficult to implement service delivery and also difficult to attract skilled personnel. The study has investigated why some municipalities fail to collect revenue and depend on national grants. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings of the quantitative paradigm have been presented in the form of graphs and charts. The major findings include: All municipalities have limited borrowing capacity; have not exceeded their budgets in terms of their spending; small municipalities have households as their main contributor of revenue collected; metropolitan municipalities get the big slice of their revenue from business; small and rural municipalities rely on grants and transfers and are therefore not financially viable; metropolitan municipalities are, to a great extent, financially viable but lack skills and capacity to utilize their resources for effective service delivery; and all municipalities under-spend their budgets. The study, after elaborating on the findings, makes recommendations on how municipalities should become financially viable.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Assessing the effect of Public Participation and development communications on service delivery: the case of the department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape (2004-2010)
- Authors: Maswana, Gcobani
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11652 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006979 , Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Civil service -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human capital -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sustainable development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Public Participation is a critical facet of development communication. The Republic of South Africa (RSA) Constitution 1996 promotes a set of values of good governance setting a framework for the public participation, and democratization of the public sector through instruments such as developmental communication in order to impact better service delivery. Public participation is an effective communication platform of a new democratic South Africa, as such, public participation forms part of the Constitution of the RSA Act (108 of 1996). To necessitate good governance, it is very imperative that the citizenry, being voters to take an active role in the affairs of governance. The credibility, legitimacy, acceptability, support for governance structures and sustainability of any government is dependable mostly on how citizens are participating in the affairs of government.The research topic being-assessing the effect of Public Participation and Development Communications on service delivery:the case of the department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape focused on Ingquza Municipality in O.R.Tambo District of the Eastern Cape.The public administration has positioned financial management and human resources as critical elements for effective and efficient system. The study has identified that the omission of public participation and development communication as a gap that need to be optimally utilized to avoid communication gap that leads to unnecessary service delivery protests. The study position communication as strategic and management function of each and every manager. The importance of Public Participation is that it could help to ensure that the citizens take ownership of processes as an important democratic principle.The imbizo’s as public participation tool and effective communication platform has been proven to be effective. The strengthening of development communication in the department to empower communities through development communication cadres and information dissemination is paramount important. Furthermore this will make sure that there is a continuous feedback on quality assurance programme in implementing political pronouncements that are made during imbizo’s.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The contribution of local economic development funded projects in job creation and poverty eradication in Alfred Nzo district municipality
- Authors: Walaza, Kanyiso
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Government policy -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job creation -- Government policy -- South Africa , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9180 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020146
- Description: Job creation and poverty eradication have been the top priority of the South African government over the past few years and continues to be on the agenda. The government is making numerous efforts to aggressively address poverty levels and create jobs. In 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) led government inherited an economy that had glaring disparities. Most of the important economic resources of the country are concentrated in urban areas, while very few economic activities and resources are found in the rural areas. While about 70% of the country’s poorest people live in rural areas, the abundance of economic resources in towns and cities has led to minimal growth taking place in rural areas. High poverty levels continue to manifest itself in various forms and shapes in communities. The negative effects of unemployment continue to threaten our societal well-being and stability. It is evident that in poverty stricken communities there are limited economic development opportunities and have thus become trapped in a poverty cycle, and economic growth is the only sustainable approach of addressing poverty and unemployment. Local economic development (LED) is but one intervention that could be used to create jobs and eradicate poverty at a given locality. LED has been regarded as an approach towards economic development and growth whereby local people are encouraged to work in collaboration in order to achieve sustainable economic growth, bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all community members in a municipal area. LED is an intervention solely based at a local level being driven by local people to realise economic benefits that would improve their quality of life. A qualitative study was conducted at Alfred Nzo District Municipality to assess the contribution of LED on job creation and poverty eradication. The target population included LED managers, Project Practitioners, LED Project Beneficiaries, LED Portfolio Councillors in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality and its Local Municipalities as well as relevant sector departments and Public Entities. The study examined the contribution of LED funded projects in job creation and poverty eradication. The project also assessed the problems, issues and challenges in LED and how they are being addressed. The study found that the implementation of LED in Alfred Nzo continues to be ineffective and confronted with numerous challenges. LED has been viewed as one of the tools for job creation targeted at unskilled and unemployed members of the community. Municipalities seem to be under utilising the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and Equitable Share for funding the LED programme. In most municipalities LED is still regarded as an unfunded mandate. Most municipalities rely heavily on grant funding from sector departments and state owned enterprises for LED. A point of concern is the lack of regular and structured discussions on LED issues within municipalities which continue to re-enforce uncoordinated planning, insufficient budgeting and poor implementation of programmes within the municipality. The study noted serious skills shortages within the project beneficiaries which hamper effective implementation of LED projects. These skills include financial management, project management, conflict resolution and business management. These are core skills for the sound and viability of management of LED projects. Access to markets has been raised as an on-going concern for LED practitioners. It is recommended that a change is made from project-based LED to a business-based approach in LED. This would require all LED projects to be registered business entities, be liable for tax and require them to produce sound business plans before receiving grant funding.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The role of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the upkeep and management of open spaces in Zwide Township
- Authors: Zonke, Gcobani
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Refuse and refuse disposal -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Waste minimization -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9135 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018657
- Description: This paper is an investigation into the role of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBMM) in the up-keep and management of open spaces, in Zwide Township. The study examines the manner in which the legislative framework for waste management is being implemented as prescribed in legislative directives. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), envisions the transformation of the local government system. Subsequently, policy frameworks and principles have been developed to support the new vision of local government. The Batho Pele Principles and the white paper were passed in March 1998. Both documents spelt out the implementation of the principle and the framework in which the local government system should operate as set out in the developmental local government concept. The developmental local government system’s core ethos lies in working with local citizenry to find ways of meeting their needs, thereby improving their quality of life. It also makes provision for public participation. Ward councillors and ward committees are an indispensable backbone of community participation. It is assumed in this study that a number of environmental, social, economic and health challenges are associated with waste disposal in open spaces. Such hazards range from health risks to the abuse of open spaces by antisocial individuals and groups. The situation is exacerbated by poor implementation of constitutional and legislative directives regarding waste management and disposal to ensure a humane and environmentally friendly atmosphere. The research assumes that the problem cannot be overcome by the NMBMM alone. Well-orchestrated community awareness education programmes such as projects like “trash is cash “and innovative ways of managing waste, including waste recycling, need to be drawn upon. The strategic placement of waste stations and the timeous collection of waste could improve the situation. The observation is that the level of service delivery varies within residential areas and in socioeconomic strata. The previously disadvantaged areas seem to have borne the brunt in terms of poor waste management services until now. The municipality has been accustomed to a situation whereby it removes the waste on an ad hoc basis in selected areas in the townships. The situation is exacerbated by little foresight into the ever growing population, specifically amongst the lower socioeconomic sector of the population. As a result, the ecology and environment is impacted in a negative way. Amidst the challenges of dumping in open spaces, a sense of determination appears within the community to want to prevent the situation; to illustrate: There is an organized group of youths who have cleaned up open spaces at along Qeqe Street in Zwide. They developed a car wash bay as a venture to generate an income. The Green Township Movement is another scheme which is mobilising the community, street by street, to keep their neighbourhood environmentally clean and green. Potentially, the Waste Management Directorate could collaborate with these groupings to halt waste dumping in open spaces. In so doing they could contribute to establishing an environmentally friendly neighbourhood. The NMBMM needs therefore to take advantage of the situation and reengineer its waste management strategy, policies and directives and augment the initiatives that the community have taken upon themselves. The study will endeavour to ultimately advise on viable strategies in an attempt to unravel barriers that have been identified, while simultaneously addressing the challenges to improving the quality of life in the township. This will be done by analysing a legislative framework and thereafter replicating the best practice used locally, nationally and internationally.. It also seeks to associate with individuals within local government in addition to groups that are like minded in combating the concern. The existing environmental regulations and the present economic situation are sound starting points. Together they present an opportunity to change the prevailing attitudes towards recycling. Finally, a number of conclusions that were arrived at during the study will be followed by recommendations. These will be based on the literature review and observations.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality
- Authors: Bokwe, Abel Zingisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Tribal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Chiefdoms -- Africa, Southern , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8262 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013104
- Description: This study investigates the role of traditional leaders in enhancing service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipality. The aim is to examine the involvement of traditional leaders in the provision of services to traditional communities. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to review literature on traditional leadership to advance an argument that by utilising the existing channels of communication such as traditional councils, government programmes could be more efficiently advertised. A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between traditional leaders and democratically elected councillors in the delivery of services. The problem in Mbhashe Local Municipality is that traditional leaders and the democratically elected leaders do not work together for service delivery. In order to address this problem, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the identified sample and conclusions drawn from their responses. The research revealed that if properly utilised and capacitated traditional leaders can indeed play a pivotal role in the enhancement of service delivery in Mbhashe Local Municipal area and in South Africa as whole.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The role of traditional leadership in service delivery in the Ngqushwa Municipality
- Authors: Noyila, Mxolisi Amos
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Tribal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8340 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020635
- Description: The study examines challenges that exist in local government in relation to cooperation or working together between traditional leaders and elected councillors. This challenge can be seen mainly in municipalities that include rural areas. The country constantly faces protests by people expressing dissatisfaction with service delivery. This is a cause of concern and raises several questions. Councillors and traditional leaders point fingers at each other. More often than not, councillors as elected leaders exclude traditional leaders in matters of governance. Traditional leaders on the other hand see councillors as people encroaching into their territory. South Africa is characterised by rural areas that operate under Kings and Chiefs who are natural leaders and enjoy authority over the people, their subjects. Historically, traditional leadership was exercised in rural areas. Tribal authorities used to play a role in defining the lives of the people. Their role was very clear. They presided over the majority of cases in their jurisdiction. With changing times, especially during the apartheid era, communities started to mistrust the traditional leaders. There was a stigma attached to traditional leaders; they were seen as puppets of the government. They were used to perpetuate the apartheid government laws and this created a wedge between them and the community at large. When the new dispensation was ushered in, in 1994, hatred and non-acceptance was at a high level. The election and introduction of councillors to some extent undermined the legitimacy of the rule of traditional leaders. They were not recognised, Councillors do not create space for traditional leaders; there is no consultation and therefore no cooperation between councillors and traditional leaders. Some members of traditional leadership became uncomfortable with this situation and started to forge relations with the African National Congress in exile. In 1987, they formed the Congress of Traditional Leaders (CONTRALESA).
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- Date Issued: 2013