Question 18: Question 18: From which of the following sources haw you gained knowledge about the supply and payment for mwticipal services
9. The research process described above is represented diagrammatically in Figure 4
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Perception studies and reports on communities' perceptions about the supply and payment for municipal services.Literature review Primacy field work
Research issues
The reality of municipal development and management in South Africa.
Literature review Interv:ie-ws and personal communication Primary field work
Model of comm.unities' perceptions of municipal SCJVice delivery.
• •
Development Application
Conclusions and recommendations Figure 4 A diagrammatic representation of the research process
Transforming the apartheid city into an inclu.9ive single-city Constitutional and Political changes Municipality income and expenditure.
Implications of the non-payment for
LJ
This research noted that attitudinal and perception studies, in themselves, only partially reveal the reality of the non-payment issue and may therefore be misleading. Consequently, concerning the issue of non-payment it is recommended. that survey results are vie-.ved in c:oojunction with infommion from media reports and municipal debt reports. It was therefore deemed nec.essary to provide other data sources in order to include a more holistic assessment of the actions and behaviour of the coosumers of municipal services. The outcome of the research has relevance to an unde�ding of spatial behavioural dynamics specifically related to the South African context.
1.S RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH
A process-oriented behavioural approach provides a philosophical basis for the development and application of a model of communities' perceptioos about the supply and payment for municipal servic.es, with a view to the possible establishment of effective interactiw linkages between a local authority and communities in South Africa. In terms of behavioural d:i.em:y represented in Figure 3, effective linkages hinge on the narrowing of the gap between the consumers' perceptions abrnrt municipal services and the reality of their provisioo. Toe development and application of the model provides benefits for an understanding of sustainable provision of municipal services in South Africa. The model proposes comprehensive strategic planning towards the development of a single-city.
The research places a perspective on spatial behaviour by introducing the individual as a decision
maker, within and without the city system. According to Golledge and Stimson ( 1987) access to individual based behavioural data is important to a research undertaking - it is perception, preference, and attitude towards an event or a phenomen� or a probed analysis ofhow a decision is made that is of dominant importance. Percepticm. studies together with municipal debt analysis is used bythis research to focus attention oo the issues being investigatioo. Moreover, government agencies, local authorities and independent organisations make use of attitudinal, perception and opinion surveys which provide statistical dat.a on behavioural spatial dynamics. Research of a behavioural nature currently enjoys international academic interest (see: Bailey 1994; Cha1cravorty 1994; Jackson 1994; Jacl<sal.and Taylor 1996; Page. Shaw and Sbilbum 1994; Simonsen 1996).
Academic debate in the South African context relates to whether the lack of funds is due to a local authority's in.ability in transforming its canstitutional arrangements (Solomon 1998), as opposed to resource and capacity constraints (Friedmann 1998a; 1998b; Heese 1998; Zziwa 1998). This thesis, however, adds the significance of the spatial behavioural dynamic of perception formation for due consideration. Specifically this relates to the provision and use of municipal services. The model provides a perspective on spatial behavioural processes concerning the local authority within a broader context. As su� it identifies the significance of relationships between the local authority and its partner.. such as, inter aha: individual shoppers, ratepayers, municipal service
users, urban inhabitants, business and pmmial shoppers, visitors, investors and residents. All these role-players themselves develop perceptions about a city. Moreover, intematiooal trends such as globalisation, natiooal umds, and competition between cities whicli have an influence on
city developmmt (Centre for Development Enterprise 1996; LeGates and Stout 1996; Saasen 1996). are placed within a behavioural oonte t of a local authority system. Reminders of these trends are reflected by weekly and even daily occurJfflceS in international affairs which impact on economic activity in the South African city, for example, political events which may influence investor confidence. Consequently, decision-makers, planners and politicians need to be mindful of the behavioural consideratioos of this research in thetransfurmation of the South African city.
The practical application of the research giws a broader behavioural context through the development and application of a model of perc.eptions providing insight of spatial behavioural dynamics on city development and rnanagemmt. This further provides a perspective on connnunication. conununication channels, messages, information flows and education strategies about the supply and payment for services, particularly within a diverne society.
At
this stage in the reconstruction, development and transformation of South Africa's cities, communication, information flows and education and training a� critical components to fast-track previously marginalised and disadvantaged individuals and communities in a democratic urban development and management process. Recommendations concerning the fundamental principles about the supply and paymmt for municipal services and on messages and possible strategies that could be implemmt:ed by the local authority, will be made. ConclusiCBls are drawn and recommoodations made for the regional and national context in South Africa so that decision-makers and urban planners might make appropriate decisions.The issue of non-paymmt for municipal services and rates has relevance in government, academic, legaL judicial and business circles. Court challenges regarding perceived unfair discrimination concerning the variation in municipal service charges has current relevance fur the relationship and behaviour between municipal service-user and service-provider and the sustainability of local govemmeot (Butterworths Law Reports 1998a; 1998b; 1998c). The training of future local govemmmt officials is also enjoying considerable atteoti.CBI at tertiary institutions and by non
govemmmt organisations. The Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi. Transitional Local Council (TLC), the Inner West City Council of Pinetawn, the Pietennaritzburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and a consortium of Business Partners for Development (Vivendi Water for Africa and PSU International) have shown an interest in the research. A particular interest lies in how interactive links between the local authority and its citizms might be enhanced. Since 1995, Inner West formerly kno,,vn as Pindown, has been incorporated into the structure of the Durhan Metmpolit.an region.
According to Gould (1985), one of the autstmding characteristics of the explosive and exciting developments of the pu; thirty years is the way geographic experti.$e -that spatial perspecti:ve is informing and illuminating problem after problem over a wide spectrum of concern.
Geographical analysis enables one to investigate the critical causal relation.ship between spatial structure and spatial process. For Abler, Adams and Gould (1971) the approach to the analysis of human activities in terrestrial space is based oo the view that human geography is a social and behavioural science. Accordingly, people generate spatial processes in oroerto satisfy their needs and desires, and these processes create spatial structures which in tum in.tlum.ce and modify geographical processes. By focusing on the process of peoples' acquisiti� storage and recall of spatial knowledge, the geographer is able to apply cartographic and graphic modes and analytical methods in the investigati<n of human spatial behaviour (Golledge and Stimson 1987). As Abler, Adams and Gould (1971: xiii) point out:
"Understanding the structural and processal consequences of human spatial behaviour has now became an absolute necessary condition of mankind's fature welfare. No serious problem e:rists the solution of which does not require a comprehensive knowledge of the way man perceives, values, and uses space and places. The ability to aplain and predict human spatial behaviour and to modify human spatial organization is now quite literally vital. We shall not survive as a species ifwe cannot predict and modify the world in this fashion. "
The dynamic nature of geographic research has been .recognised by Harvey (1967a; 1967b; 1969), in his ccnclusion that geographers were coocemed with spatial processes in the fonn of spatial manifestations of temporal phenomena. Moreover, at this juncture in South Africa's transformation, a view that geography and a comprehension of its cmcepts can make a contribution to citizens' undermnding of their environment as well as its role and function as a tool for developmmt., empowerment and reconstruction, is put forward in A case for geography in the new South Africa (Hurry 1994). It is coosidered that research for this thesis contributes to a more integrated understanding of how interactive links between a local authority and its citizens may be enhanced in the South African context. A necessary component of this is consideration of the dynamics of pen:epticm fonnation. In essence the researcli regards this as an �ect of the recaistruct:iCJll, development and transfonnation of the South African city.
CHAPTER1WO
COMMUNITIES' PERCEPTIONS ON THE SUPPLY OF, AND PAYMENT FOR, MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES
2.1 PERCEPTION STUDIES
Chapter One discussed. the use of perception studies by researchers when attempting to determine hwnan attitudes to, and perceptions of, aspects related to their environment. Reference was made to some international examples of perception studies and related literature. In this chapter, perception studies conducted in South Africa are the fucus of attention. NatianaJ-based perception research conducted on the issue of payment and supply of municipal services is consolidated and compared with city-based pecteption studies conducted in Pietermaritzburg. This is followed by an analysis of the resu1ts of a school
based perception study conducted by the researclier in Pietermaritzburg.
2.2 ADULT-BASED PERCEPTION SURVEYS
A literature sean:h and review revealed pertinent adult-based perception studies conducted at South African natiooal and individual city level. including those conducted by the Hwnan Science Research Council (HSRC), the Helen Suzman Foundation, Ubuntu Development Counsultants and Universal Security Services.
2.2.1 Human Science Research Council National Survey of Public Attitudes 2.2.1.1 Background to the study
A survey on public attitudes to nationaJ issues in South Africa entitled. Attitudes to national issues in South Africa: 1997 was C<Dlducted by the HSRC. The research consisted of a c.ountrywide study of public perceptioos of national issues that the HSRC conducted among 2 197 respondents ofl8 years and older, during February 1997. The aim of the project was to provide reliable scientific data and subsequent analysis on various nationaJ social priority issues. The project utilised questionnaire surveys to determine public attitudes to key issues in South African society. For the purposes of this research thesis, particular atteotion was givm to the section dealing with respondents' willingness to participate in local development by paying for services and respooderrts' attitudes to utilisation oflocal resources. Respondent attitudes to
the payment for services were explored through responses to the following four statements in the HSRC survey: