CHAPTER FOUR: EXAMINING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA
4.7 THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL
4.7.2 Integrated Development Planning Representative Forums as Mechanisms for Public Participation Participation
Local municipalities in the Republic of South Africa are required to use IDPs as instruments to design their five yearly integrated development plans. According to Harrison (2008), IDPs are the leading instruments for local planning in South Africa (cited in Theron, 2012). IDPs serve as a locus for integrating service delivery and development programmes at the LG level. In essence, IDPs are supposed to allow local communities and various stakeholders to identify and prioritise development programmes in their context. They are supposed to encourage local people to contribute their experience and indigenous knowledge in the selection of development programmes that are relevant to the local people. In this way they serve as mechanisms for public participation at the LG level. Section 29 (b) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000), stipulates that local communities should be consulted on their development needs and priorities. According to Cele (2003), public participation in the IDP processes is in line with Section 152 (1) of the Constitution (Act No.108 of 1996) that provides for the participation of local communities and community organisations in the affairs of local government. The Act (Act 32 of 2000) also makes it mandatory for all municipal councils to have IDPs that reflect their long term vision of development as well as their internal transformation needs.
158 IDPs play a significant role in the development plans and objectives of the LG. Theron (2005) and the RSA Ward Committee Resource book (2005) note that, IDPs help municipalities to involve the public during the preparation of their development plans. Siphuma (2009) and Theron (2005) point out that IDPs are supposed to be a result of an integrated planning process that guides and informs all planning, budgeting, management and decision-making process.
Fuo (2015:173) adds that, “In order to enhance public participation in local governance processes, municipalities are obliged to use their resources and annually allocate funds in their budgets for building the capacity of communities, municipal councils and municipal officials”.
The aspect of building the capacity of local communities is essential so that they could acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to participate meaningfully in local governance processes and improve local government performance. Thus it is mandatory for municipalities to adhere to public participation principles. In addition, IDPs compel the LG to adopt a developmental approach in order to overcome the apartheid legacy of exclusion and the resultant entrenchment of rural poverty and underdevelopment.
The Integrated Development Planning for Local Government Guide (2000) stipulates that IDPs should include all the key stakeholders. These stakeholders include local municipalities, councillors, local communities, NGOs and relevant departments from the three spheres of government. The ward councillors are supposed to present the needs of their constituencies so that they can be considered in the IDP processes. This means that local councillors have the mandate to promote the needs and interests of their constituencies. Community organisations and other stakeholders have the opportunity to participate in IDP processes and present the needs and priorities of local communities as well. Other stakeholders such as businesses which reside and operate within the municipal areas are also encouraged to participate in the IDPs and in the implementation of the development plan.
Essentially, IDP processes are intended to be open to all the relevant stakeholders and transparent so that they truly reflect the developmental interests of local communities. In this regard, Reutener and Fourie (2015:13) state that, “When public engangement is limited or curtailed, the implementation of government policies frequently face resistance and fail to achieve desired objectives”. This indicates that poor and lack of public participation in local governance processes can result in implementation failure and poor service delivery.
Meaningful participation in local governance processes can improve the quality of decisions and facilitate their effective implementation.
159 IDPs provide an avenue for local communities to determine their destiny in terms of service delivery and development programmes. They also bring the national and provincial sector departments closer to the poor at the local level. The interaction that takes place in IDPs can enlighten the municipalities and local communities about the programmes and policies of the various sector departments. The various sector departments can also use IDPs to guide municipalities and other stakeholders on how to access their resources in a way that addresses local development needs.
The IDP representative forums were proposed by the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to encourage the participation of communities and other stakeholders in the IDPs. The forums are supposed to provide a structure for robust discussion, negotiation and joint-decision making. They are also supposed to improve communication between the stakeholders and the respective municipality. According to the IDP guide (2000), IDP forums can also monitor the planning and implementation processes. They are purposefully designed to include a wide range of participants so that they benefit from various skills and experiences.
The Guide (2000) notes that IDP forums may include:
• Members of the executive committee of the council;
• Councillors including district councillors;
• Traditional leaders;
• Ward committee representatives;
• Heads of departments and senior officials from municipal and government departments;
• Representatives from organised stakeholder groups;
• People who fight for the rights of unorganised groups –e.g. A gender activist;
• Resource people or advisors;
• Community representatives (e.g. RDP forum);
IDP forums are also mechanisms of public participation and thus, designed to allow local people and other stakeholders to interact with LG on pertinent issues and decisions that affect them. Whereas elections are essential for democracy, there is a need to develop strategies that allow citizens at grass-root level to interact with government and give input on thousands of decisions that the government makes. The IDP forums enable municipalities to receive input from the people regarding their concerns and priorities. Citizens also get to know how the
160 government does its work and spend their tax money. As a result, IDP forums empower citizens to contribute to their development and hold public officials accountable for their actions.
However, it needs to be determined whether they have succeeded in promoting public participation at the municipal level in relation to rural development.