Service Delivery in Disadvantaged Communities: a Case Study of Langa

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Service Delivery in Disadvantaged Communities: a Case Study of Langa SERVICE DELIVERY IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF LANGA BY JEROME NOVEMBER 9438150 A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Administration in the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape Supervisor: Prof. J. Bardill May 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS KEYWORDS ………………………………………………………………………………………… iv ABSTRACT ………………………………………………………………………………………… . v DECLARATION…………………………………………………………………………………….. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………………… vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ……………………………………………………………………… viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND …………………………………….. 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 BACKGROUND………………………………………………………………….. 2 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT.. ……………………………………………………… 4 1.4 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES.…………………………………………………. 6 1.5 HYPOTHESES. ………………………................................................................... 6 1.6 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY.………………………………. 7 1.6.1 Research instruments………………………………………………………………. 7 1.6.2 Selection of candidates…………………………………………………………….. 7 1.6.3 Motives for questions……………………………………………………………..... 8 1.6.4 Data analysis……………………………………………………………………….. 8 1.7 LIMITATIONS………...………………………………………………………….. 9 1.8 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS…………………………………………………. 10 1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY…………………………………………….. 10 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………………………………………. 12 2.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………... 12 2.2 APARTHEID……………………………………………………………………….. 12 2.3 LEGISLATION AND POLICY ……………………………………………............ 13 2.3.1 Local Government Transitional Act, 1993………………………………………… . 13 2.3.2 RDP White Paper, 1994…………………………………………………………….. 14 2.3.3 The Constitution, 1996……………………………………………………………… 15 2.3.4 White Paper on Local Government, 1998…………………………………………... 16 2.3.5 Disaster Management Act, 2002………………………………………..…………... 18 2.3.6 Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003…………………… 19 2.3.7 Local Government Municipal Property Rates Act, 2004…………...……………… 20 2.3.8 Public participation………………………………………………………………….. 20 2.3.9 Developmental Local Government………………………………………………… 21 2.3.10 Turnaround Strategy………………………………………………………………… 22 2.4 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMMES AND MECHANISMS..... 23 2.4.1 Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme, 2001………………………….. 23 2.4.2 Municipal Infrastructure Investment Unit, 1998……………………………………. 24 2.4.3 Local Government Transition Fund, 1998/1999 …………………………………… 24 2.4.4 Municipal Systems Improvement Programmes…………………………………….. 25 2.4.5 Local Economic Development (LED) and Poverty Alleviation Fund …………….. 25 2.4.6 Extended Public Works Programme………………………………………………... 25 2.4.7 Project Consolidate…………………………………………………………………. 26 i 2.5 CHALLENGES IN SERVICE DELIVERY……………………………………….. 27 2.5.1 Weaknesses of the LTGA..………………………………………………………….. 27 2.5.2 Amalgamation of local authorities. …………………………………………………. 28 2.5.3 Failure to implement policy…………………………………………………………. 30 2.5.4 Ward committees……………………………………………………………………. 31 2.5.5 Class apartheid.. …………………………………………………………………….. 32 2.6 SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………… 33 CHAPTER 3 BACKGROUND TO THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN AND LANGA…………… 34 3.1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………….. 34 3.2 THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN……………………………………………………… 34 3.2.1 Wards in the City of Cape Town …………………………………………………… 36 3.3 LANGA……………………………………………………………………………… 37 3.4 SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………. 39 CHAPTER 4 DESCRIPTION OF FINDINGS ………………………………………………… 40 4.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………. 40 4.2 FINDINGS…………………………………………………………………………. 40 4.2.1 Questionnaire results (Table B)..…………………………………………………… 40 4.2.1.1 Category one (Satisfaction with service delivery)...… …………………………….. 41 4.2.1.2 Category two (Policy implementation)……………………………………………… 43 4.2.1.3 Category three (Noticeable changes) .……………………………………………… 45 4.2.1.4 Category four (Public participation)..………………………………………………. 47 4.2.2 Statistics for Langa.. ……………………………………………………………….. 49 4.2.2.1 Housing ……………………………………………………………………………. 49 4.2.2.2 Unemployment.. ……………………………………………………………………. 51 4.2.2.3 Poverty..…………………………………………………………………………….. 52 4.2.2.4 Crime..………………………………………………………………………………. 53 4.2.2.5 Other service problems………………………………………………………...,…. 53 4.2.2.6 Patterns that emerged from the questionnaire and census statistics..………………. 54 4.2.3 Interviews.………………………………………………………………………….. 55 4.2.3.1 The Mayor..…………………………………………………………………………. 55 4.2.3.2 Mr Watkyns (DA).………………………………………………………………….. 57 4.2.3.3 Mr Sopaqa (ANC)..…………………………………………………………………. 59 4.3 SUMMARY.………………………………………………………………………. 61 CHAPTER 5 ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH FINDINGS………………………………………. 63 5.1 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………… 63 5.2 ACHIEVEMENTS ………………………..………………………………………. 63 5.3 LIMITATIONS……………………………………………………………………. 64 5.3.1 Lack of funds………………………………………………………………………. 65 5.3.2 Lack of skills……………………………………………………………………….. 65 5.4 CHALLENGES……………………………………………………………............. 66 5.4.1 Intergovernmental relations………………………………………………………… 66 5.4.2 Fraud and corruption.……………………………………………………………… 68 5.4.3 Public participation..….…………………………………………………………….. 69 5.4.4 Political environment……………………………………………………………… 70 5.5 SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………….. 71 ii CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS… …………………………. 73 6.1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………. 73 6.2 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS……………………………………………………. 73 6.3 RECOMMENDATIONS…..……………………………………………………. 76 6.3.1 Capacity building…..…………………………………………………………….. 76 6.3.2 Ward committees…….…………………………………………………………… 77 6.3.3 Integrated Development Planning…. ………………………………………………… 79 6.3.4 Affordability of services……. …………………………………………………… 80 6.3.5 Accessibility of services………………………………………………………….. 80 6.4 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………… 81 BIBLIOGRAPHY ……..……………………………………………………………………………… 82 APPENDIX 1 QUESTIONNAIRE……..……..…………………………………………………………… 85 APPENDIX 2 REPLY SHEET……..…………….……………………………………………………….... 86 LIST OF TABLES ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Table A …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 36 Table B …….…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 41 Table C ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………… 50 iii KEYWORDS service delivery disadvantaged inequalities amalgamation satisfied historical antecedents public participation implementation challenges formal and informal settlements iv ABSTRACT In order to address the inequalities created by the apartheid regime between local authorities, various legislative and support mechanisms were put in place which were not always implemented effectively and efficiently. For this reason, the amalgamation of the previous racially based local authorities from 843 to 283 was introduced in terms of the Local Government Transition Act (LGTA) of 1995 and in particular the Local Government Municipal Demarcation Act of 1998. This reduction in the number of municipalities may have reduced the level of administration disruption but gave rise to institutions still being plagued by inequitable service delivery which impacted negatively on disadvantaged communities (Williams, 2000: 167). This has resulted in sporadic outbreaks of violence and protests all over the country more especially in the disadvantaged areas. In search for solutions to curb these violent protests this study was conducted to investigate the state of service delivery in the disadvantaged areas of the City of Cape Town. Langa as the oldest township in the City was selected for this purpose. As a result a questionnaire, in addition to statistics of Langa as well as interviews with important stakeholders was conducted. The data collected from these sources serve as the basis of the findings of this report. The findings establish that the majority of the residents in Langa more especially those from the formal areas are dissatisfied with the levels of service delivery. A range of factors such as intergovernmental relations, mismanagement and corruption and political infighting have been responsible for policies not being effectively implemented. However important strides have been made with regard to services most notably in the provision of electricity, water and sanitation. This is demonstrated by those respondents who indicated that they are reasonably satisfied with the levels of service delivery, most of whom were drawn from the informal rather than formal settlement areas. The findings, however, indicate that these residents are in a minority. For this reason the report concludes that the majority of the disadvantaged community of Langa is not satisfied with services due to the City of Cape Town’s failure to implement policies effectively and effciently. As a result the report not only addresses the achievements and failures of the City of Cape Town but also makes recommendations to ensure that policies are implemented effectively and efficiently. This report firstly provides a brief introduction, background as well as the main guidelines of the research. Secondly, the report details the key issues of the research as well as those policy and legislation which relate to service delivery provisions. Thirdly, the report sketches background details of both the City of Cape Town and Langa. Fourthly the report provides a description of the findings of the report. Fifthly the report provides an analysis by way of discussing the achievements, limitations and challenges facing service delivery in Langa. Lastly, based on the conclusions derived as a result of the research, the study proposes various recommendations to speed up service delivery. v DECLARATION I declare that “Service Delivery to Disadvantaged Communities.
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