Browsing by Author "Kraai, Sonya Delene"
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- ItemParticipatory budgeting to foster inclusivity, transparency and accountability in local government : a case of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-12) Kraai, Sonya Delene; Zwelinzima, Ndevu; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.ENGLISH SUMMARY: This study investigates participatory budgeting (PB) in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, focusing on public participation, resource allocation, and good governance. In addition, it investigates the degree to which it is used as a bottom-up strategy and the involvement of civil society. This study highlighted the importance of meaningful discussion within participatory governance systems in local governments. It demonstrates the applicability of the available mechanisms as well as the necessity of enhancing participatory budgeting at the local level. Virtuous municipalities involve the public early in the process and during the crucial debate and discussion stages. A straightforward legislative procedure does not ensure the effective implementation of participatory governance. As a result, this study adds a fresh perspective on the stages of participatory budgeting design, an original framework, and unique characteristics like mainstreaming participatory budgeting to the ongoing discussion. Therefore, the results of this inquiry may be useful in supporting public servants in making decisions regarding how to construct and develop the entire participatory budgeting process to increase trust. This study acknowledges that integrated development planning and participatory budgeting are frequently confounded in Local Government. The municipality is expected to ascribe a moral and a legal obligation to the communities they serve by involving them in determining, prioritising, and implementing socio-economic development planning. Along with municipal plans, PB should be implemented in municipal governments through a stage process that is structured within a framework to accomplish this goal. The assessment of relevant literature acknowledges that rationality, public reason and justification, decision-making, public participation, and a supporting public sector are all components of deliberative democracy. Deliberate PB emphasises the need for adequate levels of citizen participation in democratic debates for participatory budgeting to be effective. To comprehend participatory budgeting in local government, the use of a single case study of Ekurhuleni experiences in PB included the adoption of qualitative research methodologies, such as online surveys with open-ended questions and primary data sources. Data triangulation was an essential step in guaranteeing that the case study would accurately assess the participant's views and provide a rich data that assist in responding to the study aim. Findings from this study reveal the lack of community participation in the budget processes, the importance of budget information and transparency, and the fundamentals of the political will in a democratic society to strengthen democracy and good governance. The findings also revealed that ward committee members lack the skills and expertise to discuss and interpret the budget of the CEMM. Thus, the case study concludes and suggests measures to cultivate a participation ethos in the budget process. The recommendation concerning institutional capacity building may assist in upskilling ward committee members and public officials. Additionally, the suggestion for the CEMM to invest in more sophisticated planning and technical tools may secure more precise and pertinent data and statistics during the analysis phase of ward priorities. An innovative PB framework is recommended as a contribution to strengthening participatory budgeting in the CEMM.