CHAPTER 3: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE IDP PROCESSES
3.6. ROLES AND IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE IDP
3.6.2 The importance of community participation
39 3.6.1.6. Facilitate development
According to Ugwuanyi and Ogbuene (2017) “preponderance of scholars are of the opinion that community participations in local government development activities facilitate development in all ramifications in the local governments”. The idea is that community participation is regarded as important for enhancing the effectiveness of the development efforts of the local government and as such, an effective strategy for rural community development. Malatji (2019) states that, “community participation to some extent privately forms a sense of ownership of the development process to the community itself”. In this instance, the development process becomes an integral part of the community and assist them in believing that they own their development process.
Participation by the mass of the community is imperative as it gives democracy a meaning and makes its practice interesting and dynamic. Indeed, “it is an absolute way of conforming to the basic principles of democracy as a political system in which citizens participate actively, not only in determining the kind of people that govern them but also actively participate in determining the policy and programmes of the local government”
(Ugwuanyi and Ogbuene, 2017). Malatji (2019) further highlights that “empowered community will effectively ensure sustainable development and continuity of the development processes”. It is further elucidated that “effective community participation in decisions regarding development programmes, increases enthusiasm on the part of the community in implementing the resulting development programme and ensure that there is transparency in implementing development programs” (Ugwuanyi and Ogbuene,2017).
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Siyongwana and Mayekiso (2011:149) indicate that, “the importance of community participation is regarded as key to democracy and sustainable development and therefore it has to be recognised”. According to Yazdi and Masomi (2016:42), elections or democracy are regarded as the symbol of political participation hence it is emphasised that political participation is one of the ways to popular participation in the political governance system that are easy and less expensive. The African National Congress (1994) in Mathebula (2015:191) highlight that, development involves delivery of goods to passive citizens, active involvement, participation, as well as growing empowerment”. In other words, if people whom the development is supposed to develop are not involved in the process, it is unlikely that it will be called development. This is because, those it is supposed to develop are not taking part during the process. Additionally, Kotze in Mathebula (2015:189) opines community participation as “the fundamental ethical principle allowing people to control actions that affect them while promoting sustainable socio-economic development, aspects of empowerment, communication and gender imperative”.
In order for community participation to be effective, it is necessary that communities influence and share control over development initiatives (Waheduzzaman and As-Saber, 2015). This can be done through competitive elections and peaceful participation in order to increase the sense of responsibility of the demands of society. Ohsugi (2007:1) highlights that citizens must have equal access to the services that are furnished by local government. Additionally, the author emphasises that in order to cover expenses incurred by local government activities, citizens are required to contribute financially in the form of contributions, taxes, user fees and other charges (Ohsugi, 2007). Yazdi and Masomi (2016:43) further state that “public participation usually arises as a result of solidarity and national unity and include effective informed consent and active participation of the community to achieve a specific goal in terms of interactivity, collaboration, cooperation and collaboration of the desire, willingness and enthusiasm by all actual and potential facilities”. Furthermore, Plummer (2013) highlights that community participation encourages involvement of women and other marginalised groups in decision making, as such there will a change in the power relations within the community. Siyongwana and Mayekiso (2011:152) emphasis that “community participation processes result in people voicing their concerns, which sometimes results in opposition to the original idea and South Africa has not escaped this trend”.
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Mathebula (2015) further indicated that “involving stakeholders and empowering community participants in programs at all levels, from local to national, provide a more effective path for solving sustainable resource management issues”. It is worth noting that, participation improves effectiveness of a project when communities own development efforts and supports decision making. In other words, projects become effective when communities take part and put more effort in ensuring that those development projects in their areas are successful and take the initiative to support decision making with regard to such development projects. It is also highlighted that “community participation also disseminates information amongst a community, particularly local knowledge that leads to better facilitation of action. Participation further results in learning and learning is often a prerequisite for changing behaviour and practices” (Mathebula, 2015). Booysen (2012:282) indicates that Section 16 (1) of the Municipal Systems Act draws attention to the importance of community participation in all processes related to the IDP. It is indicated in Marais (2013) that, the IDP process was meant to facilitate deeper participation, hence Siyongwana and Mayekiso (2011:142) state that a participatory type of development allows people the ‘right to a voice in making decisions that influence their lives’. Community participation is perceived from various angles, hence from the other angle as regarded to be conducted is just a form of ‘therapy’ for local communities while critical decisions were already made by those who are in authority.
Community participation is also regarded as, “an active engagement where individual and groups find the opportunity to change problematic conditions and have an influence on the policies and programmes which affect their lives” (Skinner, 1995 as cited in Chifamba, 2013). Furthermore, Churchman (2012:2) emphasises that participation is realised that it has the potential to provide major benefits for individuals together with the community, and society as a whole. Madacumura, Mebratu and Haque (2005:239) added that it is important for communities to decide on the model adopted when embarking on the management of development projects as community participation assumes various forms.
Arguably, “the participation of communities in planning ensures that the plans reflect the values and beliefs of the local community” (Mkentane, 2013).
Additionally, Ntuli (2011) highlights reasons for participation in the IDP process as follows:
“To ensure that development responds to people’s needs and problems; to ensure that municipalities come up with appropriate and sustainable solutions to problems of communities in a municipality. The use of local experience and knowledge in this regard
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is helpful; to entrench a sense of ownership to local communities by making use of local resources and initiatives; and to promote transparency and accountability of local government by opening a space for all concerned to negotiate different interests “(DPLG, 2001 in Ntuli, 2011).