A model of communities' perception of municipal service delivery in South Africa with particular reference to Pietermaritzburg.

The research identified specific issues related to the reconstruction, development and transformation of the South African city. The information obtained was used to inform the research process, particularly in model development.

Communities' sources of knowledge oo the supply of: and

The Basic Essentials•of Apartheid 3.1.3 Toe Applicatiou of Apartheid Laws

DIFF�G DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITIIlN AND wrmour nm CITY RESULT IN DIFFERENTIATED

Black Local Authority Outside the Homelands 3.2.3 Black Local Authority Within the Homelands
The South African Constitution Act of 1983 (the Tricarneral Pa1-Iiameot)
Regional Services Councils/Joint Services Boards
The Results and Consequences of the Ungovemability of Townships

THE RECONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE WCAL AUfflORITY

THE POST-AP ARTIIEID ERA PROMOTES OPPORTUNITIES FOR 1HE DEVEWPMENT OF WCAL DEMOCRACY

Transitional arrangemeots for local government
Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Transitional Local Council 81
Phase three of local government transformation
The Reconstruction and Development Programme 4. l.3 The Development and Implementation ofan Integrated
The Masakhane Campaign
Municipal Service Consumers in Edendale Wards 19, 29 to 33 and 35 (Ashd own., Unit IS BB, Imbali Unit 3, Imbali l,
The Sobantu Pilot Project

THE FINANCIAL IMPERATIVE OF THE PIETERMARITZBURG-MSUNDUZI LOCAL

TIIE PIETERMARITZBURG-MSUNDUZI TRANSffiONAL LOCAL COUNCIL FINANCES OF CITY ADMlNISTRA TION

Behavioural Factors Which May Lead to Tensions Wrt:hin the Local Authority's Financial, Management and

Actions and behaviour ofmtmicipal servi�users 122 5.1.2.3 Percepticms about South African cities and the cowrtly 123

Sue<:essful Partnership Between the Public and the Local Authority in the Devel op ment Process

A MODEL OF COMMUNITIES' PERCEPTIONS

Summary of Research Results

The Significance of the Development and Applic.aticn ofa Model of Communities• Perceptims

Underlying Principles and Parameters of the Model 6.3.2 Compcnents of the Model

An individual's perceptions 6.3.2.2 Perceptual filters
The South African city
Local authority strategic goals 6.3.2.5 Municipal communicatioo strategies
Comnwnity-based development fora and community service
Educ.at.ion system and school curriculum

Local authority strategic goals
Education system and school curriculwn 6.4.1.5 Interpretation and summary
Local authority communication strategies 6.4.2.2 Municipal service delivery
Education system and school curriculum 6.4.2.5 Inteipretation and summary

CHAPTER 7: APPLICATION OF THE MODEL TO PIETERMARITZBURG

APPLICATION OF THE MODEL

Education symern and school curriculum 163
Recommendations for Pietennaritzburg 163

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY CHANGE IN THE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN AREAS

Question 8: What services do you have at the house where you stay and are they free or paid for each month?

Question 5: Does anyone staying in the household pay for some ofthe services?

Question 14: Why do you think people do not pay for these servic.es?

The consequences of people not paying for municipal services will be

Question 18: From which of the following sources haw you gained knowledge about the supply and payment for mwticipal services

Political Change and the Transformation of Local Government in South Africa

In the wake of increasing demands, a new national constitutional dispensation was introduced, and with the resulting changed local circumstances, local government came under pressure to rethink its role and approach. For details OD: local government mediation in South Africa, including that of the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 and the Interim Constitution, see Cloet.e (1995); the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.a, Act.

Bond, Rent5 and Municipal Services Payment Boycotts

Fundamental to the sustainability of the urban economy is the satisfactory management, financing, maintenance and servicing of this system and its image within and outside this system. It is understood that non-payment of utility services is just one of the problems facing current local authorities from a behavioral perspective, a key issue being explored by the researcher.

The Conversion of a Rent Boycotter

The transformation of the South African city therefore leads to the consideration of strategies for how a person's perceptions and behaviors towards a city's development and management system can be influenced. Attention must now be turned to summarizing the foundations of perception and mental imagery, a key aspect of spatial behavioral processes and the realm of behavioral geography.

PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT

The Dynamics of Perception Formation
The Significan<:e of Perceptions in the South African Context
Channels of Communication in the South African Context

To understand the dynamic processes of perception formation a discussion of the paradigm is necessary. That part of the operational environment of which a person is aware is called the perceptual environment.

S The Importance of Perception Formation to the Research

PUKPOSE OF THE RESEARCH In essence the pwpose of this research is

The non-payment of rates and municipal services in South Africa and the government

A local authority's financial imperative of income and expenditure within the framework of cummt government legisJation

An application and interprel:3ti.cm of the model to reach conclusions and provide recommendations for the regional and naticmal ccut.ext of urban management and

MEffiODOLOGY

Furtbennore, the basic principles of geography hold (Carter 1981 }), economic geography and an economic system (Lloyd and Dickm 1989) are implicit in the foundations of ontology. The aims, scope and importance of the study formulated in chapter One is mainly developed in research and literature review.

The contents of Chapter Two is formulated on perceptioo surveys. The chapter investigates communities' perceptions oo the supply of and payment for municipal

The importance of including the views of young adults is that it will give an indication of the level of their thinking towards local development issues, including the provision of municipal services. The outcome of the school-based survey is used in later chapters, where this information has relevance in the construction of the model of communities' perception of municipal delivery formulated on the concept of whole-city development.

Chapter Three has been developed to provide the reader with an understanding of the issues surrounding the noo-payment of rates and municipal services in South Africa

These young adults will be breadwinners and responsible for the utilization of limited resources in their homes in the future. The survey included similar issues to those investigated in the adult studies so that any general trends could be identified and discussed.

The outoome of the research presented in the preceding cliapters provide a context for the developmmt of a model of oommun:ities' peroeptions of municipal delivery in South

The Sobantu pilot is based on the principles of the Inner West concept of community development. The effectiveness of community service is seen as an aspect of development in the whole city, compared to the Masakbane campaign, which is primarily a stand-alone education.

Further research into this community service project included participatory survey interviews with the relevant councillor, municipal officials and community leaders. The application and interpretation of this model is explained by identifying three main phases in the development of the South African city, namely: the apartheid era.

The research process described above is represented diagrammatically in Figure 4

PERCEPTION STUDIES
ADULT-BASED PERCEPTION SURVEYS

Human Science Research Council National Survey of Public Attitudes .1 Background to the study

The outcome of the research relates to an ambiguity of spatial behavioral dynamics that is specifically related to the South African context. Further development and application of the model offers benefits for an understanding of sustainable provision of municipal services in South Africa.

Everyone should have to pay for their services provided by government

People who mil to pay rent and service charges should be evicted from their homes and deprived of services

Taxes paid by the wealthy commWlities should be spent to upgrade the poorer communities

Everyone should pay the same amount of rates and taxes, irrespective of where they li v e

Survey results
Conclusioos from the Hwnan Science Research Council study
Helen Suzman Foundation Investigation into Non-payment of R.enb, Rates and Service Charges in South African Towns and Cities

Background to the study

While a large percentage of respondents (82%) stated that ewryoo.e should pay for its services provided by government and local authorities, it is clear from the high non-payment rates mentioned in the first chapter that consumer behavior patterns are not necessarily match the sentiments expressed in the survey. Support for a flat rate of charging for services is particularly popular with residents living in areas previously excluded from municipal jurisdiction under apartheid rule.

There were examples of communities which had become l 00% payers who were actually in poor areas. Similarly1he Masakbane Campaign had sometimes had a dramatic effect on exceptionally

Smaller communities were likely to be better payers than large and amorphous townships or informal settJemmt areas. Another factor was whether local cormmmity leaders, elected

South Africa has a weak civic cuhure and the survey found that the tradition of democratic local govemmmt was also weak. More than half the respondents said they had less contact with

According to the research, the combination of a sense of community and high distrust of their neighbors reflected the reality of township life in the 1980s and 1990s. The survey found that in towns outside Gauteng, one in six believed this, as did one in eight in smaller towns.

A culture of eotitlement appeared to be much monger in Gauteng where services were seen as a human right for which no one should pay. It also emerged that if people had more mon ey they

Since such cases convey a powerful message to their constituents that default is a legitimate course of action, the research explored respondents' views on the issue. 34;It is hard to believe that about one-third of respondents in other cities and smaller towns and more than half in Gauteng who believed their leaders did not care or actually sympathized with non-payers are likely to be payers themselves ," (Johnson thus adding support to the view of the existence of a weak civic culture.

A sense of community pressure was found to play a role in payment levels. Approximately 66%

Conclusioos from the Helen Suzman Foundaticn study
Ubuntu Development Consultants Attitudinal Survey in Pietennaritzbure .1 Background to 1he study

Community A (adequate service areas) included established parts of the city's inclusive suburbs such as Montrose, Prestbury, Pelham. Community B (underserved area) included the newly incorporated areas of the city including Sobautu, Greater Edendale, Lambali and Ashdown.

Conmumity B (.inadequately serviced areas) comprised newly-incorporated areas of the city including Sobautu, Greater Edendale, lmbali and Ashdown

Ubwrtu Development Consultants were appointed by the Pietermaritzburg Municipality to carry out a Masakhane awareness campaign and part of the process was to deploy educational materials that would be used by trainers to educate target communities. Areas of the city covered by the survey were categorized as: areas with adequate services; areas that are inadequately maintained; and areas where no or very poor services were provided.

Community C (none or very poor servic.es), also regarded as part of the newly-incorporated parts of the city, included Slangspruit and C-opesville Informal Settlement

The adequately served business community showed a clear awareness of the economic foundations of services. The adequately serviced household sector showed a similar level of undemandingness to the economic principles of service delivery by ranking Masakhane's message as: service delivery, economic.

The adequately serviced household sector showed a similar undemanding of the economic principles of service delivery by ranking the message ofMasakhane as: service delivery, economic

In contrast to the debt reports, which will be discussed in more detail in Chapter Four, the majority felt that the culture of non-payment was a thing of the past. In terms of speeding up the delivery process, the majority felt that supporting Masalchane and paying for services would speed up the process.

The poorly serviced business sector felt suspicious about the survey and refused to take part, an aspect of evasion and suspicion also noted by the Johnson (1999) report discussed above

Forty percent believed that more money from central government would help the delivery of services. 34;In terms of affordability they all agree with rates set by the council which take into account the level of unemployment.

The report also included a summary of peraptions noted during the course of participatory meetings conducted with communities, whicli. substantiated the existenre of diverse perceptions

Conclusions from the Ubuntu Developmeot Consult.ants midy
Ubuntu DeYelopment Consultants Sewerage/Water and Sanitation Perc:eption Study in Wards 31 (lmbali 1) and 32 (lmbali 2) in Pietermaritmurg

Background to the study
Survey results

From the above research, an obvious difference in peroepti� is evident between communities from old (traditional white hens:rolled communal areas) and newly incorporated parts of the city. Such thinking seems to be at odds with the economic and financial requirement of the service provider, taxpayers and other services.

Options cliosen by respondents to the question where does water come from? were as follows

Conc1usions from the Imbali Ward 1 and 2 study
S Anti-Crime Awareness Programme Perception Survey 5.1 Background to the study

Survey results

The targeted communities perceive the municipality as being bureaucratic and delivery is not up to people's expectations
Council mefficiency and crime were SeEi1 as the major contributors to poor service delivery
The Jaclc ofleader$rup was noted as an obstacle to effective delivery of services and development with.in communities;

Summary of the Findings from the Five Independent Surveys
The PiirpoM: aiid Method of the Study

Community A: well-serviced areas (485)

Survey Results

Class teachers have been trained to facilitate the completion of quest:ioonaires in the classroom. Due to the diversity of the population included in the survey, a 40% sample of each category was deemed sufficiently representative of each group.

What services do you have at the house where you stay and are they free or paid for each month?

Types of services received by the community

Well-served areas within established parts of the city and two categories of settlements, one adequately served and the other poorly served. Poorly served areas include mainly residential areas on the outskirts of the city or interspersed within residential areas.

Communities' perceptions on the supply o£: and payment for, municipal services

With the help of an actual municipal ward boundary map, a distinction can be made between communities residing in established parts of the city and those living in villages living outside the municipal jurisdiction under apartheid. As repeated in Figure 5, except for Soba:ntu settlement, all transportation areas southwest of the city center fell outside the municipal jurisdiction area.

Does anyone staying in the household pay for some of the services?

Why do you think people do not pay fur these services?

The consequences of people n� paying for municipal services will be

In response to the question that by the racially divided South African city into a single economic unit. In response to the question that paying for rates and for municipal services will help people achieve this efficiency, more than 50% of all three communities agreed with the statement as reflected in Table 10.

The Masakhane Campaign is an attempt to unify the racially divided South African city into a single economic unit. By paying rat.es and for services people will help achieve this effort

The above information suggests, especially considering the household profiles in each group, that the diffusion of innovations needs to be carefully considered to approach the dynamics in South African society and the various communities that make up that society. Furthermore, if municipalities and government are to develop civic and democratic values, the reality of perception formation in the diverse context of South Africa will need to be considered, as highlighted in this thesis.

From which of the following sources have you gained knowledge about the supply and payment for municipal services?

An Overview of the Origins of Racial Segreeatiou in South African Cities
The Basic Essentials of Apartheid
The Application of Apartheid Laws
A Model of an Apartheid City
Reform Initiatives of the 1980's

Young people in the well-established areas of the city had a clearer understanding of the provision and payment of municipal services. Obvious physical disparities between different parts of the post-apartheid city must be overcome.

DIFFERING DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE CITY RESULT IN DIFFERENTIATED LEVELS OF

White Local Authority
Black Local Authority Outside the Homelands
Black Local Authority Within the Homelands

APARTHEID PRACTICE CREATES ECONOMIC ANOMALIES AND FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS

The South African Constitution Act of 1983 (the Tricameral Parliament)

RESISTANCE TO APARTHEID RULE

Strategies to Make Townships Uqgovernable
The Results and Consequences of the Ungovernability or Townships

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

THE POST-APARTHEID ERA PROMOTES OPPORTUNITIES FOR fflE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY
l .1.1 Transitional arrangements for local government transformation

A further innovation in the structure of the local government system was the introduction of regional service councils in terms of the Regional Services Council Act of 1985. Furthermore, in response to the struggle, boycotts of rents and municipal service payments became the order of the day.

March 1993 the Local Government Negotiating Forum (LGNF) was established as a bilateral forum between a statutory delegation consisting of representatives of the central,

The Reconstruction and Development Programme

In the section of the RDP devoted to local government, the developmental role of municipalities is emphasized and aims to: include areas previously separated under apartheid; The RDP provides and articulates a vision for the integration of segregated towns and the transformation to democracy in South Africa.

Moreover, for the first time in history, the development and management of local areas would be aware of the needs and aspirations of the common c:it:izms. Input from the Hampton delegation, from Virginia in the US as part of the Resource Cities program, provided insights that have informed the IDP process.

The Piet.ennaritzburg-MSWJdmi Local Development Plan

IDPs, as discussed for the first time in South African history, offer the opportunity for integrated planning and land development objectives for the development and management of urban space, now including hitherto excluded areas. LDPs, as legal articulations of !DPs, for the first time in South African history, offer the possibility of integrated local development planning for the development and management of the Uiban space, now including previously excluded areas from apartheid legislation.

The Resource Cities Programme

Hampton's criticism of the IDP noted that the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi TLC would have to be customer and business driven if it is to be an effective level of gtMmIDent that can deliver results for its constituency (Meyer Natal Wrtness 16/6/98). The dtesis has taken note of the fundamental management principles proposed by Hampton fur in developing the model in chapter six.

The Masakhane Campaign

ASBF Marketing and Ubmrtu Developmeot Consultants were assigned to implement the campaign on behalf of the municipality. The next section will investigate the success of the local Masakhane initiative by assessing trends in utility payment levels.

MEASURING THE SUCCESS OF THE MASAKHANE CAMPAIGN

Debt Trend for the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Transitional Local Council
The Sobantu Pilot Project

In.information from Pietermaritzburg's municipal debt reports, wards in newly incorporated areas of the city show poor levels of participation in relation to municipal co-ownership contracts. It should be noted that in established areas of the city high levels of payment were maintained through strict credit c:ooroll mechanisms, as discussed in Chapter Three.

JNTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

These aspects have been incorporated into the development of the model and will therefore receive attention in Oiapter Six. Chapter four examined constitutional and institutional changes in the reconstruction, development and transformation of the post-apartheid city.

THE PIETERMARITZBURG-MSUNDUZI TRANSfflONAL LOCAL COUNCIL FINA NCES OF CITY ADMINISTRATION

The City O pe rating Costs

The Piete.rmaritzburg local authority. income and expenditure

The input of one system is the output of another system, demonstrating the interactive nature of the economic system (Figure 16). Therefore, as the above model shows (Figure 16), the circular and interactive nature of an economic system's financial imperative is more than a consequence of sustainable reconstruction.

Pietennaritzburg-Msunduzi Transitional Local Council: operating expenditure for 1998/99

Behavioural Factors Which May Lead to Tensions Within the Local Authority's Financial, Management Md Administrative Systan

A literature review, as reported in chapters one, two and four, shows that behavioral factors can create financial, social, economic and political stresses and strains that create tensions within the local government financial sector. The following aspects are discussed: actions of political leaders, actions and behavior of users of municipal services, and tensions between communities and between communities and local government.

Actions and behaviour of municipal service-users
Pen:eptions about South Afric.ao cities and the cowrtiy
Tensions between communities and between communities and their local authority

Such behavior results in financial, social, economic and political stresses and strains, producing tensions within the local authority system. The successive economic downturn results in financial, human and political stresses and strains that manifest in tensions within the local authority.

J Successful Partnership Between the Public and the Local Authority in the Development Process

Research studies discussed in Chapter Two have revealed a high level of ignorance about municipal services among adults living in newly established parts of the city. Assessing the principles and values mentioned above will be the subject of further debate in Chapter Six.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

More broadly the city operates within a competitive market and the image it creates is important for the marketing and sustainable development of the city. Consequently, local authorities will have to create a more effective system of credit control and communication with existing companies, as well as the education of future ones, for the supply and payment of municipal services, if a concept of a city of alone.

BACKGROUND TO fflE MODEL

Consequently, mental images and related human spatial behavior are important components of the city development and management process. The research considers such behavioral considerations as central to the successful reconstruction, development and trans-functioning of the post-apartheid South African city.

THE RELEVANCE OF A MODEL OF COMMUNITIES' PERCEPTIONS

Summary of Research Results

The purpose of the chapter is to develop a model for a community's perception of the supply of and payment for municipal services in order to assist municipalities and communities in solving the problems described above. At this point, it means the establishment of municipal community structures within newly incorporated areas of the city.

South African realities need to be carefully considered when developing communication strategies to South Afric.a's diverse population. Rogers and Shoemaker (1971) identified

The following interrelated factors were found to hinder a local authority's ability to unite the city. Such aspects must be taken into account when developing the form, content and method of local authority strategies to communicate with citizens.

Adult-based attitudinal and percepti.01 studies conducted in South Africa discovered that a significant nwnber of citizens' are i gn orant about the principles concerning the supply

Where a Masakhane Campai gn has been implemented using conventional methods of communication and as a stand-alone project ithas proved to be ineffective when measured

Local authorities in South Africa should therefore take such considerations into account in order to effect change in communities. Research by Taylor and Mattes (1998) found that in South Africa, a significant number of citizens currently feel that the national government is more responsive to their needs than.

Research by Taylor and Mattes (1998) noted that in South Africa a significant number of citiz.ens presently feel that national government is more responsive to their needs than

Local authorities have to operate according to fiscal and economic dictates if they are to

l The Significance of the Development and Application of a Model of Communities' Perceptions

It is therefore imperative that local governments have effective and fair credit control systems in place. A model of communities is proposed, which can be implemented by local authorities to help overcome some of the current problems of urban management.

The establishment of strong interactive linkages betwem a local authority and a community founded on a single-city concept may be created. The model demonstrates

Taxpayers and citizens who do pay for services are being alienated by local authorities that do not have effective and fair systems for collective monitoring and enforcement. payment for municipal services. An application and interpretation of the model offers several advantages for policy makers and urban managers.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MODEL OF COMMUNITIES' PERCEPTIONS ON THE SUPPLY OF, AND PAYMENT FOR, MUNICIPAL SERVICES

Underlying Principles and Parameters of the Model

The research has shown that such considerations at this stage of the transformation process are critical to the sustainable reconstruction and development of South Africa's cities. Consequently, the model is designed as a tool that enables decision makers and plBD11ers to incorporate a spatial behavioral dynamics perspective into their thinking.

A process-oriented behavioural approach to geographical analysis with a focus on the individual within a community. People are thus at the heart of the situation

Processes of d}1lamic spatial behavior appear to have been overlooked in discussions and planning regarding local government transformation in South Africa.

The lines in the model represent interactive links in the system along which information flows and messages from the environment - information, messages and signals from the

A local authority has a financial imperative and must have prudent financial managemmt

A relationship exists between the level of economic activity, productivity and the level of municipal service delivery.

A relation.ship exi� between the level of economic activity, productivity and the level of mwricipal se.rvic.e delivery

A local authority exi� within an environment as an economic system and it must adapt to changed circumstances in order to survive

Stresses and strains in the system lead to social, financial and managerial constraints within the local authority system

A local authority must have innovative and strong impartial leadership which bas vision and the ability to develop and implemeot policy with intent

Popular dissatisfaction with a system. results in people voting with their feet

Partnership between the local authority and communities promotes participatory democracy, an important ingredient for sustainable development at the local level

Characteristics of traditional and modem social system nonns are evidmt within South Africa's diverse society and need to be considered when local authorities develop strategic

Components of the Model

An individual's pero,ptions
Perceptnal filters
The South African city

Consideration of such spatial behavioral dynamics is sign.mented in light of the events in. As a result, since an individual's environment plays a role in the formation of mental images, consideration of the South African urban context has also been noted in the formulation of the model .

As a result of the findings of this research, consideration of the urban behavioral dynamics of the South African realities is essential at this point in the transformation process. In an overview of the apartheid city, the research described the processes that led to the physical division of the South African city.

A further oonsequence of apartheid practic.e, and the p:roteu and struggle against it, has been the resultant formatim of citi7.en.S' spatially segmented meuta1 images about the

The third chapter describes how the South African city was divided by apartheid and the physical differences that resulted from what is represented in Figure 21 as physically divided. A South African city is made up of different population groups that exhibit social forms that range from traditional to modern.

The South African city ocnmts of diverse population groups which display social fonns that range from traditional to modem. The cultural base of these social fonns range from

Municipal communication strategies

Traditional methods of local government communication in the current South African urban context have been found to be ineffective in largely unresponsive communities. In terms of current South African urban dynamics, community-based forums and community service centers provide the political and institutional operational mechanisms so that a nation-building philosophy can be fulfilled within communities.

Municipality

Education system and school curriculwn
THE APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE MODEL

The Formation of Mental Images During the Apartheid Era

l. l Local authority communication strategies
l.2 Municipal service delivery

Education system and school curriculum
The Formation of Mental Images During the Current Post�apartheid Period
The Formation of Mental Images: Recommendations for the Future Functioning of a Democratic City

A customer�friendly and business-oriented local authority with minimal political interference in the business of running the city
Local authority strategic goals founded oo nation-building philosophy and a corporate compr e hension and effective implementation of strategic goals towar� the devel op ment

Reconnnendatioo.s for the future

A code of conduct for local authority personnel. A code of oooduct for committing local authority personnel, councillors and community leaders to the implemeotatioo of strategic

Interpretation and summary

Interactive links in the system between the local authority and the individual will still remain underdeveloped. AU combines the components to establish strong interactive links between the local authority and the individual and communities.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Pietermaritmurg Local Authority
l .1.1 The formation of mental images
l .1.3 Municipal communicaticm strategies

Comprehend the significance, in terms of behavioural theory, the shoppers, visitors, investors and residents it is trying to woo, both from within and without,

Limit political interference in the business of running the city. In order to limit political interference the local authority should

Ensure that economic goals are not allowed to be ovemiadowoo by political expediency, as has been the advice of the Hampton Delegation. Media reports
Re-evaluate the effect the proportional representation system has on local government as has been suggested by editorial comment (Natal Wrtness 25/6/99)
Develop a corporate understanding of an economic prineiple that the level of municipal service delivery will depend an the level of economic activity �d
INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION

The non-payment of rates and municipal services in South Africa and the go�rnmmt

Toe reconstruction, devel op ment and transfonnation of the local authority system in Pietermaritzbmg as a case study
A local authority's financial imperative of income and expenditure within the framework of current government legislation
The devel op ment of a model of communities' perceptions of municipal service delivery

Interpretation of the model, as applied to Piet.ennaritzburg as a case study, to reach conclusions and provide recommmdatioos for the regiat.al and national context of mban

CONCLUSIONS

The development of strategic goals is part of the local development process that began in March 1999. It also enables political interference in the management and economic development of the city.