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P8 eThekwini
Municipality IDP
IDP Manager Male 40-50
5.10. DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
125 5.10.2. Structure of semi-structured questions 5.10.2.1. One-on-one interviews
According to Creswell (2015), one-on-one interviews are costly and takes time for the researcher. In these interviews the researcher asks questions and records answers from individual participants – such interviews are ideal for participants that are not hesitant to express themselves, can express their thoughts, and able to share with ease (Creswell, 2015).
In this study, one-on-one interviews were conducted with the participants, who were able to express their own opinions on the subject under study questions, which were asked the participants included open-ended questions.
Interviews in public management have things, which are different, which makes them complete and acceptable. Questions which are often asked by public administrators starts with how many, how much, how efficient, how effective, how adequate, and why. These interviews provide a deeper insight into what other stakeholders might be thinking about a project. They also provide the outcomes and performances of public policy and programmes (Osafa, 2015: 151). Thus, the researcher was able to get answers to the problem that was being investigated by employing open-ended questions.
5.10.3. Designing a semi-structured interview questionnaire
Shensul et al. (as cited in Sandy & Dumay, 2011), provide guidance on maintaining high quality in designing a questionnaire by recommending that the following principles be adhered to:
• maintaining the flow of the interviewee’s story;
• maintaining a positive relationship with the interviewee; and
• eliminating interviewer bias (Sandy & Dumay, 2011).
The questionnaire for this study was designed in such a way that it would elicit clear responses regarding the human settlements strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in ensuring the quality of life of environments. The provision of all facilities in the area under study is important because it leads to the integration that the BNG advocates. In getting as much information as possible, the researcher had to ensure that interviews were flowing, and that a positive relationship was maintained between the interviewer and the interviewee.
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The researcher for this study designed two interview schedules. The interview schedule for community members in Cornubia was designed to investigate whether the quality of life of community members had improved since they were relocated. This researcher also employed the services of research assistants to assist with the data collection. The research assistants were trained by the principal researcher on how to ensure consistency when collecting the data.
Creswell (2016) reiterates that those assisting in conducting the interviews should be trained so that techniques used by all interviewers are constant. This training should involve demonstrating to assistants how an interview is conducted, followed by a trial interview.
The following themes emerged from the questionnaire:
1. To assess the integrated housing strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in creating a quality living environment/ukubheka uhlelo lwezindlu olusetshenziswa uMasipala we Theku ukwenzeni impilo engcono yabantu.
This theme was based on the current integrated human settlements strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in creating a quality living environment for communities in Cornubia.
2. To assess the level of satisfaction of communities in sustainable human settlements strategy, aimed at creating a quality living environment/sifuna ukuthola izinga lokwaneliseka lomphakathi ohlelweni luka Masipala lwezindlu ekushitsheni izimpilo zabantu.
This theme was based on the level of satisfaction of communities in the current strategy employed by the Municipality, and whether it did improve the quality of life of affected communities.
3. To determine the strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality to address housing backlogs, in order to create a quality living environment/sifuna ukubona ukuthi uhlelo luka Masipala weTheku kungabe luyakwazi yini ukwehlisa inamba yabantu abafuna izindlu.
The theme was based on how the municipality is addressing housing backlogs in order to create quality living environment – and the kind of houses provided to communities in order to reduce the demand for houses in the municipality.
4. To assess the infrastructure development strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in order to create quality living environment/sifuna ukuthola ingqala sizinda uMasipala ayisebenzisile ukuze kushitshe izimpilo zabantu kulendawo.
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The theme addressed infrastructure development in the area, where communities had been relocated – whether the kind of infrastructure that was developed met the demand in the area.
Human settlements is about ensuring that all facilities are provided in proximity to where communities live, in order to enhance the quality of their lives.
5. To determine the level of involvement of all stakeholders in creating a quality living environment/sifuna ukubona izinga lokuthintwa kwazozonke izinhlaka zomphakathi u Masipala ekushitsheni izimpilo zabantu.
The theme considered the level of stakeholder involvement in decisions, which affected communities, in order to improve their quality of life. The theme also ascertained the attendance of community meetings, where issues were raised with communities. It also ascertained the role played by community leaders in ensuring that communities are involved in decision-making.
As mentioned above, that data were also collected from officials to ascertain the integrated human settlements strategy employed by the eThekwini Municipality in creating quality living environments. The following questions, which were grouped into themes, were employed to collect the data:
1. Current integrated housing strategy used by the KZN province in creating a quality living environment.
The theme addressed the issue of household formations and racially based planning in the province, which affected housing provision in the eThekwini Municipality. It looked at how the province is facilitating the current human settlements strategy, while at the same time formalising the tenure rights of residents within the informal settlements.
2. The level of satisfaction of communities in the sustainable human settlements strategy, aimed at creating a quality living environment.
The theme looked at issues of transport, access to basic services in order to increase the level of satisfaction amongst communities in the new areas after relocations. Issues of financial exclusion were also considered for household earners that can be accommodated within the BNG.
3. The strategy used by the eThekwini Municipality to address housing backlogs in creating a quality living environment
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The theme address relocations and housing backlogs in the municipality, as well as the problems affecting housing delivery in the eThekwini Municipality, as well as look at the housing reforms in the municipality – whether they have led to improved housing delivery, while at the same time, monitoring the progress made in the delivery of housing.
4. Infrastructure development strategy used by the eThekwini Municipality in creating quality living environment.
Issues of infrastructure development were addressed by assessing how the Municipality was dealing with them in order to create quality living environments. The extent of ensuring that affordable and sustainable basic municipal infrastructure was addressed to meet the demands of communities was also looked into.
5. The level of involvement of all stakeholders in creating a quality living environment.
The theme addressed response of communities during public community meetings where they were invited by the municipality, on issues affecting them. Furthermore, the extent to which the province addressed the societal and economic exclusion of communities in order to promote social and economic integration.
5.10.4. Piloting the interviews
Piloting is important in research because it helps the researcher to identify problems in the questionnaire. For instance, the trial run of the interview may indicate that the language used in the questionnaire is too difficult, or that the questions are too long to be understood. Once this has been established the questions can be simplified before the questionnaire is distributed to the real sample, or the actual research participants (Bertram & Christiansen, 2014). In this study, the trial run was conducted and the researcher picked up language problems in the questionnaire. As a result, the questionnaire had to be translated into IsiZulu that is predominantly spoken by the people in the area of study.