This thesis does not contain information from other persons, unless specifically acknowledged as originating from other persons. As a result, provision has been made for the government to nurture a new culture of development-oriented local government.
Chapter One: Introduction and Background
- Introduction
- Background and Outline of the Research Problem
- Research Question
- Objectives of the Research
- Research Methodology
- Structure of this Dissertation
- Conclusion
What is the relationship between public participation and service delivery in the community of Ward 08 in Dr. What is the role of public participation in the provision and development of the service in department 08 in Dr.
Chapter Two: Conceptual and Theoretical Framework
Introduction
Understanding Public Participation
Creighton (2005) defined public participation as the process by which public concerns and values are embodied in government and corporate decision-making. Public participation embraces the promise that the public's contribution will have an effect in the decision;.
Mechanisms of Public Participation
- Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and Budget Outreach
- Izimbizo
- Ward Committee Meetings
- Public Participation Mechanisms as a System for Citizen Engagement Engagement
These are some mechanisms of public participation, to name but a few, that serve as a system for citizen involvement in democratic government in South Africa. These mechanisms clearly demonstrate the commitment of democratic governance to participatory processes beyond periodic elections, as it is clear even in the statutory and constitutional obligation that governance structures facilitate and enhance public participation in their processes (Houston, 2001).
Challenges Facing Public Participation
This situation has forced the government to use information, communication and technology (ICT) to facilitate public participation. Procedures have been implemented to develop guidelines and programs to ensure that public participation obligations are satisfactorily met (Buccus et al., 2008).
Selected Studies on Public Participation
Mosotho (2013) assessed the effectiveness of public participation programs in terms of service delivery in the Capricorn district of Limpopo. The question of the authenticity of public participation can create some gaps when it comes to what is expected of it.
Arrnstein’s Ladder of Participation
- Non-Participation
- Citizen Power
- Limitations of Arnstein’s Ladder
The third level, information, is where there is a one-way, top-down flow of information, where the public is informed only of its rights, responsibilities and options. Partnership, at the sixth level, is where power is distributed through negotiations between the public and those in power. The public are acting as valuable partners in government programs for development and service delivery.
Connor’s Ladder of Participation
- General Public
- Leaders
- Resolution and Prevention
According to Taylor (2003), the top of the ladder is believed to be the territory to compete for. When the education and information feedback programs do not deliver the expected results, the next step of the consultation includes asking for additional solutions to the issue than originally envisaged by the promoter, further possible assessment criteria than initially observed, a weighting of the views of interested parties and informed people about evaluation criteria and a ranking of the technically sound and economically acceptable alternative solutions. Where a party involved in the proposal has legal jurisdiction over certain aspects of the area concerned, it should be involved as a partner in a joint planning process.
Public Participation and Good Governance
- Accountability
- Transparency
- Combating Corruption
- Public Participation
- Legal and Judicial Framework
- Conclusion
Agere (2000) says that transparency is defined as public awareness of government policies and confidence in its intentions by enabling scrutiny of public accounts, ensuring public participation in the formulation and implementation of government policies, and providing an opportunity to challenge decisions that affect the lives of citizens . According to Agera (2000), improving the efficiency and transparency of economic policies and administrative reforms can greatly help in the fight against corruption and improve good governance. Respect for human rights promotes the healthy benefits of basic freedom of expression, assembly and association, as enshrined in the South African Constitution (Republic of South Africa, 1996), empowering citizens to act to improve their living conditions.
SERVICE DELIVERY AND DEVELOPMENT
- Service delivery
- Development
Citing the opinion of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and drawing on Ganesh (1994) on top of various definitions of development, Jarso (2017) defines development as. According to Sen (1999), Jarso (2017) further defines development in terms of “removal of major sources of “despotism” such as poverty, tyrannical government, poor economic opportunity or unemployment, existence of systemic social deprivation, neglect of public amenities as well as the existence of repressive states, famine or inadequate nutrition, absence of cures for curable diseases, and inadequate public amenities such as scarcity of epidemiological programs, or planned arrangement of health care or educational facilities, as well as scarcity of effective institutions for the maintenance of local tranquility and order.
Chapter Summary
Chapter Three: Policy and Legislative Framework for Public Participation in South Africa
- Introduction
- Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
- The Municipal Systems Act (MSA), 2000
- The Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998
- Traditional Leadership and Government Framework (TLGF) Act 41 of 2003
- Batho Pele Policy of 1997
- South African Public Service Policy of 2014
- White Paper on Local Government, 1998
- Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) No. 56 of 2003
- Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act No. 6 of 2004
- Conclusion
Article 152(1) of the Constitution states that "local government shall encourage the involvement of communities and community organizations in the affairs of local government". 32 of 2000 section 16 states that local communities should be encouraged to participate in the affairs of the council. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Republic of South Africa, 1996), through section 212(1), recognizes the traditional leadership institution as an institution of governance, as it indicates that national legislation may provide for a role of traditional leadership as an institution at the local level on issues affecting local communities, in addition to their role as guardians of customs and traditions (Republic of South Africa, 1996).
Chapter Four: Research Method
Introduction
Research Approach and Design
Sampling
Marshall (1996), Kuzel, (1999), Patton (2015) and Malterud et al, (2016) believed that a commonly stated principle for determining sample size in a qualitative study is that the sample size (n) should be sufficiently large and varied to clarify the objectives of the study. Most community members in Ward 08 participated in community meetings, IDP outreach programs and izimbizo as most of them participated in service delivery protests or witnessed these protests. Therefore, the sample included 29 members of the public with each village of five villages represented by up to six people, and the head responsible for integrated development planning and public participation.
Research Instrument
The traditional council meeting was convened where ten of its members participated in the interviews. If the sample had more informational power, a larger sample size would not be needed (Malterud, 2016).
Data Collection Method
The manager responsible for integrated development planning and public participation by municipal employees was interviewed to determine how input from the public is processed to ultimately result in the provision and development of services according to people's expectations, as well as how public participation has been implemented in this municipality. The reason for choosing this manager was that she is the relevant person who has knowledge of planning issues in the municipality. She is also responsible for integrated development planning and is a champion for public participation.
Data analysis
Once the researcher was familiar with the data, the researcher began to identify tentative codes, which are the features of the data that seem interesting and meaningful. The researcher here gives theme names and clear working definitions that capture the essence of each theme in a concise and powerful way so that a unified story of the data from the theme begins to emerge. It should go beyond a mere description of the themes and show an analysis supported by empirical evidence that responds to the research question.
Ethical Issues
The report must convey the results of the analysis in a way that convinces the reader of the merits and validity of the analysis. To protect anonymity, the participants were identified and simply referred to as respondents when the data were analyzed. The first participant was referred to as Respondent 1, the second as Respondent 2, and so on.
Summary
We are encouraged to participate in the elections because there are promises that are delivered to our community even though sometimes not all are delivered as promised but we still participate but some are delivered. When those promises are not fulfilled and the specified time frame has expired, you find that the department does not come back to give feedback, but they send the local municipality to come back and report to the community that is when the conflict arises. The municipality's inability to fulfill its promises and to inform the community about any developments reflected badly on the municipality as they are the closest to the community.
Mechanisms for Public Participation (Theme 2)
Okay ... I think as I said before, uuhm when we go to the public in the form of public meetings that we have and we receive complaints using our social media sites. In addition to the public participation programs that we have, we also have the customer care complaints management system that we have put in place. As traditional leaders, we are the ones who invite the municipality to come when we have meetings.
Community Challenges (Theme 3)
The finding here is a gap on the part of the municipality in involving traditional leadership in IDP programs. The principles of cooperative government and intergovernmental relations recognize the interdependence of the three spheres of government, national, provincial and local, in South Africa (Malan, 2014). The finding here was that poor cooperative governance and intergovernmental relations are a result of the main challenges Dr. NDZ is confronted with regard to services and development.
Challenges that Hinder Service Delivery (Theme 4)
It also turns out that these spheres do not have human encumbrances. OK, my speakerphone is broken', but you didn't report it to the municipality. The state of public participation in the sphere of local self-government is crucial for good governance, as it increases transparency, responsibility and responsiveness to the needs of the local community.
Opinions about Pace of Service Delivery (Theme 5)
These political meetings are usually called by the councilors or the Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Municipality where they call on all community members to gather so that they can report back to the community regarding requests from the local community and the projects undertaken by the municipality, but the meetings are infiltrated by certain political parties , just as you know that the Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma municipality is dominated by the African National Congress, but there are small opposition parties that come and disrupt the meeting or to show that they have some information about why some of the community projects are not finished. Others, however, have been driven by selfish desires and have been out to exploit the community projects for their personal gain. We vandalize government property and it makes it seem like the needs of society are not being met.
General Discussion of Results
The finding here was that poor collaborative governance and intergovernmental relations were the result of the main challenges faced by Dr NDZ's community in relation to service delivery and development. The Directorate of Transport and the Directorate of Housing from the provincial level should have been made aware of the problems of these departments that affect the community of Ward 08 in Dr NDZ from the municipality as well as from the district municipality regarding water issues. The tendency to leave out traditional leadership in matters of service delivery and development by the municipality has undermined the important role that traditional leadership plays in the community and the community's trust in their traditional leadership.
Legislative Perspective
Conclusion
Chapter Six: Conclusion and Recommendations
- Introduction
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
- Concluding Comments
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa recognizes the traditional leadership and its role in the municipalities and the whole government. There must be a clear strategy and plan of the government to monitor and evaluate the implementation of its policy, especially on public participation, to ensure that each sphere of government is responsible and accountable for public participation for the service delivery and development to be achieved become and for the goal of the democratic government as a developmental government to respond to the concerns of the citizens to be realized. People cry about the slow pace of service delivery and development, yet there is no explanation for the beneficiaries of the development.
Evaluating the effectiveness of public participation programs and service delivery in the Capricorn District Municipality of Limpopo 2013. An analysis of public participation in the South African legislative sector (PhD Dissertation, Stellenbosch, University of Stellenbosch). The Dynamics of Public Participation in Local Government: A South African Perspective' University of South Africa Faculty of Law, 2015.
Appendix C: Interview Schedule
When the meeting/s have been called, are there any preparations for those meetings done by the community?
Appendix D: Turnitin
