An assessment of Rosendal-Mautse participation in the IDP process of Dihlabeng Municipality
Date
2008-12
Authors
Fokane, Molete Edwin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Since 1994, the newly elected democratic government of the Republic of South Africa,
starting with the government of National Unity, has introduced various policies and
legislation in an endeavour to place the country on a path to recovery after the demise of
apartheid. The national government has placed this responsibility in the hands of
municipalities, or local government as they are commonly referred to. As a result,
municipalities have an active duty to create conducive environments to enable local
communities to participate in the preparation, implementation and review of their
Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
The purpose of this study is to assess the public participation of Rosendal-Mautse, one
area among the five towns that comprise Dihlabeng Municipality, in the IDP process of
Dihlabeng Municipality. In view of the anthology of legislation governing “public
participation” at local government level, the study poses two hypotheses, which were
tested against the data collected. Furthermore, two additional research questions were
formulated to guide the research process. Results of the research are provided in a way
that will enable the reader to draw his or her own conclusions on the value of this study.
The literature review on international understanding and practices of public participation
suggest that participation has grown and that its role has extended in development. This
has resulted in the birth of new approaches that cut across theory, policy and practice,
with each approach in turn producing its own trajectory and contextual specificities that
are characterised by unique debates and empirical evidence.
Municipalities are currently burdened with the responsibility to achieve socio-economic
goals associated with public participation. However, despite compliance with legal
requirement for public participation, only an appropriate knowledge of the process
leading to meaningful participation and the relevant skills hold the key to success in this
quest to reconstruct and develop the country where all will live a better life.
Description
Thesis (MPA (School of Public Management and Planning))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.
Keywords
Integrated development plan, Socio-economic development in the Free State, Community participation in development, Community development -- South Africa -- Free State -- Citizen participation, City planning -- South Africa -- Free State, Local government -- South Africa -- Free State -- Citizen participation, Dissertations -- Public management and planning, Theses -- Public management and planning