The role of the NGO in local government : the case of World Vision in Ubuhlebezwe Municipality

Date
2018-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Local government in South Africa is struggling and is marred by continued service delivery protests, corruption and fraud. Since the new dispensation in 1994, the developmental local government agenda was to be implemented by local municipalities. This has however not been without challenges. The lack of integration between social development and service delivery as well as the administrative-political dichotomy, has been particularly problematic. This study evaluates how developmental local government plays out in South Africa and what role Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play in this space. NGOs has long been important role players in development agendas both internationally as well as in South Africa. The study will show that although there have been organisations involved in areas like poverty reduction and helping the marginalised for centuries, the perception of the failing State has opened doors for these organisations to fill a vacuum left by these States. Furthermore, the study will show that faith-based organisations has distinct characteristics, which make them ideal partners for local government. The types of planning partnerships that encourage co-production is of particular importance. Public participation is the heart of any development effort and form part of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of every municipality. Participation unfortunately often plays out in the narrow sense in local government and there is space for NGOs to play a facilitation role in this particular area. The study will show that World Vision South Africa (WVSA) has a particular way of partnering with local government that builds capacity and empowers both the municipality as well as the local community. The researcher has used the work that WVSA does with the Ubuhlebezwe Municipality as a case study. A qualitative research paradigm was employed, using interviews and focus groups and participatory observation to collect primary data. The study will show that NGOs are important stakeholders in local government, but that there is a “sweet spot” for how these organisations work together. NGOs should focus on capacitating local government rather than implementing programmes parallel or even in opposition to local government. IDPs and Local Economic Development (LED) plans are key documents that can be important indicators where a certain municipality could require help from NGOs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Plaaslike regering sukkel in Suid-Afrika en word geteister deur voortslepende protes oor diensverskaffing, korrupsie en bedrog. Sedert die aanvang van die nuwe bedeling in 1994 moes plaaslike munisipaliteite uitvoering gee aan die ontwikkelingsgerigte plaaslike regerings plan. Dit het egter nie sonder uitdagings plaasgevind nie. Die gebrek aan integrasie tussen sosiale ontwikkeling en diensverskaffing sowel as die administratief-politieke tweeledigheid was besonder problematies. Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe die ontwikkeling van plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika plaasvind en watter rol nie-regerings-organisasies (NGOs) in die spasie speel. Nie-regerings-organisasies (NGOs) is al lank reeds belangrike rolspelers in die ontwikkelingsarena, internasionaal sowel as in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie sal aantoon dat hoewel daar reeds vir eeue organisasies bestaan wat betrokke was op gebiede soos verligting van armoede en die versorging van gemarginaliseerdes, die persepsie van die mislukkende Staat dit moontlik gemaak het vir hierdie organisasies om die vakuum te vul wat deur hierdie State gelaat is. Die studie sal daarbenewens aantoon dat geloofsgegronde organisasies besondere kenmerke het wat hulle die ideale vennote vir plaaslike regerings maak. Die tipes beplannings-vennootskappe wat medeproduksie aanmoedig, is van besondere belang. Openbare deelname is kern tot enige ontwikkelingspoging en vorm deel van die Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelings Plan (IDP) van elke munisipaliteit. Deelname vind ongelukkig dikwels op ’n gebrekkige wyse in plaaslike regering plaas en daar is dus ruimte vir NGOs om op hierdie besondere gebied ’n rol te speel. Die studie sal aantoon dat World Vision Suid Afrika (WVSA) op ’n besondere wyse met plaaslike regering in vennootskap tree, wat bekwaamheid bou en beide die munisipaliteit en die plaaslike gemeenskap bemagtig. Die navorser het die werk wat WVSA in die Ubuhlebezwe Munisipaliteit doen, as ’n gevallestudie gebruik. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsparadigma is gebruik, wat van onderhoude, fokusgroepe en deelnemende waarneming gebruik gemaak het om primêre data te versamel. Die studie sal aantoon dat NGOs belangrike deelhebbers in plaaslike regering is, maar dat daar ’n spesifieke wyse is waarop hierdie organisasies doeltreffend kan saamwerk. NGOs moet daarop fokus om plaaslike regering te bemagtig eerder as om parallelle programme te implementeer wat selfs in stryd is met die plaaslike regering werk. Geïntergreerde ontwikkling en Plaaslike Ekonomiese Ontwikkeling (LED) planne is belangrike aanwysers van waar sekere munisipaliteite hulp van NGOs benodig.
Description
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Non-governmental organizations -- KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Developmental local government -- KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), Public-private sector cooperation -- South Africa, Local government -- KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) -- Citizen participation, World Vision South Africa, UCTD
Citation