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The DPLG’s mission is to develop appropriate policies and legislation to promote integration in government’s development programmes and service delivery, and to provide strategic interventions, support and partnerships to facilitate policy implementation in the provinces and local government. Van Ryneveld (2007) notes that the Department of Provincial and Local Government derives its mandate from Chapter Three of the Constitution, which deals with local government, and Chapter Seven, which deals with traditional leaders.
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The KwaNaloga Games aim to promote sound inter-district relationships and social cohesion between districts using sport as a vehicle to forge sustainable partnerships.
Games further strengthen existing relationships, enhancing co-operation between the different districts across the KZN Province and contributing to local socio-economic development in the area where the Games are staged (KwaNaloga Games Blueprint, 2003).
However, for the Games to be staged successfully, fundamental requirements, obligations and actions have to be met by the district and local municipalities, sport federations, the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR), the KwaZulu-Natal Local Government Association (KwaNaloga) and other stakeholders. KwaNaloga owns the Games and appoints the Local Organising Committee (LOC) responsible for the organisation and co-ordination of the Games on its behalf (KwaNaloga Games Rules and Regulations, 2006).
Despite the numerous challenges associated with these Games, according to the District Post-Mortem Reports (2005-2009), the KwaNaloga Games have continued for thirteen years. The challenges have been in the areas of equipment, playing facilities (venues), accommodation, transport, funding and affiliation fees, and catering and meals. While these challenges have persisted, and their likely effect on IGR notwithstanding, no empirical studies have been conducted. This position is regrettable as information derived from such studies would inform policy about the use of Games to improve IGR in the municipalities. As an attempt to fill the gap, this study was proposed.
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It is argued in this study that if the various spheres of government can align their objectives, processes and resources around a specific outcome like the KwaNaloga Games, then it is possible for the same spheres of government to align objectives, processes and resources for the delivery of housing, electricity, roads, sanitation, water, safety, waste and disaster management, security and other critical developmental local government outcomes.
1.4. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study’s aim was to examine how the KwaNaloga Games can be used to enhance intergovernmental relations in selected municipalities. The objectives of this study were to:
I. Investigate the role played by the KwaNaloga Games in promoting IGR in selected municipalities.
II. Examine the administration challenges experienced by major participants in the Games.
III. Evaluate the sustainability of relations and partnerships forged among provincial, district and local spheres during the KwaNaloga Games and how sustainable are the relationships between municipalities.
IV. Examine the best practices learnt from the Games for IGR improvement.
1.4.1 KEY QUESTIONS
The following are the key questions of the study:
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I. To what extent have KwaNaloga Games succeeded in promoting IGR?
II. What and how are the challenges posed by the KwaNaloga Games solved?
III. How sustainable are the relationships forged prior to, during and after the Games between district and local municipalities?
IV. What best practices are learnt from the Games for IGR improvement?
1.5. CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
The principal theories on administrative reform, participatory democracy, governance networks and decentralisation, together with the policies and processes of IGR, provided a conceptual and theoretical framework for the study. In South Africa, the work of Du Toit (1998), Van der Waldt (1997), Cloete (1995) and Reddy (1999) was consulted. At an international level, the work of Gurr and King (1987), Pickavance and Preteceille (1991) and others informed this study.
A one-on-one interview was held with 25 representatives from district municipalities, government departments and KwaNaloga Institution. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with seven focus groups, namely: the three district sport officers who are involved in sport administration; representatives of the Sport Federations; three District Team Managers and technical staff; government departments; sport officers from local municipalities; municipal officials who assist during the KwaNaloga Games; and athletes representing different sport codes. The questions posed focused on issues such as co-ordination, administration and management of the Games; partnerships and working relationships before, during, and after the Games; and IGR lessons provided by
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the Games. For the analysis of this qualitative data, a phenomenological approach was used.
In gathering the quantitative data, a questionnaire was administered among members of the three districts’ Technical Sport Planning Committees to determine the challenges experienced during the Games and the nature of relationships before, during and after the event. The questionnaire also included the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the Games.
Mouton (1996) and Silverman (2002) emphasise the importance of the validity and reliability of research findings. To arrive at valid and reliable results, this study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods in collecting data. The qualitative aspect made use of both one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions, while the quantitative research aspect made use of a survey in which questionnaires were distributed to carefully selected informants. The phenomenological method was followed for the analysis of qualitative data. In analysing the quantitative data, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used as an analysis tool for the research questionnaire.