Browsing by Author "Nelson, Chrizelle"
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- ItemExploring Monitoring and Evaluation within a Good Governance perspective: A case study of Stellenbosch Municipality(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Nelson, Chrizelle; Pillay, Pregala; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.ENGLISH SUMMARY: The focus of this dissertation was to explore the good governance and the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms within local government. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory research approach, which included the selection of the Stellenbosch Municipality in the Western Cape as the case study. The literature study revealed, firstly, that the concept of good governance is largely influenced by strategy and policy direction within the field of public administration. Within the South African context, this is evident by the constant challenge to balance the political and administrative components of government towards ensuring positive synergy in the maintenance of good governance. Secondly, the literature study reflected on the theoretical aspects of monitoring and evaluation, and the application of monitoring and evaluation within the local sphere of government in South Africa. The literature highlighted the differing policy frameworks that exist between the three spheres of government in South Africa. The empirical study investigated the case of Stellenbosch Municipality through a review of the current good governance practices and the extent to which monitoring and evaluation arrangements are in place. Semi-structured interviews were used as the basis for investigating views and practices with regards to good governance and monitoring and evaluation from the perspective of the municipal officials tasked with operational implementation. The study revealed that the municipal officials are not utilising the monitoring and evaluation system to its full potential within the municipality and that this creates a disabling factor in the pursuit of good governance. The thesis calls for national government to implement processes within the local government environment that utilise aspects of monitoring and evaluation, as well as the newly developed national evaluation framework. It offers the opportunity to move in a direction of governance within local government that is perceived as being good, and the adoption of monitoring and evaluation systems that contribute to the pursuit of good governance. Ultimately, this dissertation seeks to contribute to learning and innovation in local government within South Africa, and highlights alternative and best practices to further the governance agenda.