WARD BASED PLANNING TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY: THE CASE OF NORTH WEST

by

Khathutshelo Innocent Sirovha

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree

PHILOSOPHIAE DOCTOR in Public Administration

in the

Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

School of Public Management and Administration

University of Pretoria

Pretoria

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. C. Thornhill

June 2017 DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY

UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

The School of Public Management and Administration places great emphasis upon integrity and ethical conduct in the preparation of all written work submitted for academic evaluation.

The declaration which follows must accompany all written work submitted while you are a student of the School of Public Management and Administration. No written work will be accepted unless the declaration has been completed and attached.

Full names of student: Khathutshelo Innocent Sirovha

Student number: 29365075

Topic of work: Ward based planning to improve service delivery: The case of North West District Municipalities

Declaration

1. I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the University‘s policy in this regard.

2. I declare that this thesis is my own original work. Where other people‘s work has been used (either from a printed source, Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and referenced in accordance with departmental requirements.

3. I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other person to hand in as my own.

4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work.

SIGNATURE ...... Date: 30 June 2017

i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My name may be alone on the front cover of this thesis, but I am by no means the sole contributor. There are a number of people behind this piece of work who deserve to be both acknowledged and thanked.

Glory be to God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – ―Your education is your life – guard it well” (Proverbs 4:13).

My gratitude goes to my stunning wife, Sylvia Sirovha, a person of passion, integrity, gentleness and unquestionable loyalty. Thank you for your unremitting support. Put simply, I have never met anyone who believes in me more. Thank you for making me more than I am. To me, you are my Doctor. This doctorate is as much yours as mine. Thank you for doing small things in a great way. You are a beacon of hope, my pillar of strength, my anchor in love and my reason for living. Every day I gaze into the sunrise of your beautiful face, hear the sensual mountain echo of your perfect voice and admire the wisdom of your glorious thoughts. Then I pray to the Lord to grant me but one wish, that every day I can become just like you. Your continued encouragement has inspired a positive attitude in me and instilled in me a sense of ambition, perseverance and the need to succeed in life.

I want to acknowledge the inspiration for this PhD by my children Thompho, Thomphano and Thomphanani. I hope this thesis will serve as your inspiration to demand more from yourselves. Never allow someone‘s opinion of you to become your reality. You are destined for greater things in life. Enjoy the Journey.

This work is dedicated to my parents who were both laid to rest on the same day, on 11 June 2011, at Khakhanwa . Their departure has reduced the very meaning of life to me. I dedicate this thesis to the loving memory of Petrus and Munzhedzi Sirovha. Thank you for inspiring me to pursue knowledge and wisdom. Thank you for instilling in me a sense of responsibility and persistence in life. I thank God for their lives. Their guidance, respect, humility and intelligence have propelled me to continue to strive for excellence in life. They earned little, but still ensured that their children received the education they could afford. Theirs was a natural end to a life well lived. Some debts are greater than others. The greatest debt I owe to them was that I could rise against all odds to the position of Municipal

ii Manager at the Bojanala Platinum District . May their souls rest in quietness.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deep-felt thanks to my biological brothers and sisters, Ndoweni, Aubrey, Sarah, Maria and Livhuwani. The strength of a family is in its unity. The strength of a crocodile is in the river – if I am a crocodile, you are my river. Where I am weak, you are strong, and where you are weak I am strong. So we need each other.

Thank you also to my brother Ambrose Sadiki and our family clan of Vhashavhi vha Khakhanwa. In you, I discovered that the unity of our clan is sacrosanct. Please tell our clan that we need them more than they need us.

I want to thank my adopted father, who is a white person. Parents adopt children, but in my case, I have adopted my father. Thank you to my supervisor, Professor Dr Chris Thornhill. You are a beacon of hope to many and a total inspiration to me. You make me a better person each time I meet you. I continue to learn many things under your guidance and surveillance. Your selflessness in imparting knowledge to me took me by surprise, because your kindness is very rare. My entire life owes what it is to you. You drew out every treasure that was hidden in me.

To my extended family at the Bojanala Platinum , thank you. To Louis Diremelo (Executive Mayor), you are the best boss ever. Serving under such an impeccable leader has made me humble. To the Speaker, Gugulethu Mtshali, and Chief Whip, Asnath Molekwa – there are no words to express my gratitude. Your names are engraved in my heart. To all employees at Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, I did not deserve to be your boss. I will remember our team throughout my life.

To my friends and family, thank you.

iii ABSTRACT

Efficient and effective service delivery is essential for the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, and it is a prerequisite for sustainable development. To promote sustainable municipal services, the South African government has therefore shifted its focus to service delivery at the local and levels. The South African National Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) promotes value-for-money service delivery in all municipalities and demands that they be accountable to the citizens for their stewardship. The ultimate goal of the South African public service is to provide services to all South Africans efficiently, effectively and economically, with public participation in the development of plans to promote quality services.

This study focuses on service delivery by the North West ‘s municipalities. The importance of better service delivery has been highlighted by several service delivery protests in the province, for example, around Mothutlung, Majakaneng and Hebron in the Madibeng Local Municipality in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (BPDM).

The study compares the South African with international on planning system. The comparative study provides an opportunity to identify common characteristics which may assist in improving the South African system of local government

This study analyses how planning can be integrated into local government and administration, with specific reference to effectiveness and community participation in district municipalities in the North West province. Data were collected from relevant books, journals, official reports, conference proceedings, published articles, relevant government policy documents, speeches, newsletters and newspapers. A qualitative research methodology was followed to analyse alternative ways and means to improve the quality of municipal service in the North West province. Methodological, participant and interdisciplinary triangulation were applied during the data collection and analysis. To offset the risks of using personal experience, the researcher adopted the role of participant observer.

The research identifies and assesses weaknesses in integrated development planning, municipal financial performance drivers and community participation, with

iv the purpose of enhancing the provincial government‘s ability to achieve its goal of improving the quality of life of all citizens in the North West province. The study identifies challenges which are faced by district municipalities and which impede the provision of basic service delivery, particularly in which have mining belt areas, such as the BPDM. It also analyses integrated development planning and the current status of service delivery in the North West‘s district municipalities. The study recommends a planning framework for South African municipalities that would improve service delivery, with maximum public participation, which could reduce the number of service delivery protests. The study demonstrates that ward- based planning can improve municipal performance in the delivery of services.

A new framework is proposed for planning in local government to augment existing planning mechanisms. This new framework could contribute to the effectiveness of municipal government and administration. Based on the existing theories and historical research, a new model is thus developed to enhance performance through a ward-based planning system. The ultimate goal of a ward-based planning system in government is intended to improve service delivery performance.

v CONTENTS

DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ...... i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... ii

ABSTRACT ...... iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...... xiv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1 LOCAL SPHERE OF GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 1 1.2 RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH ...... 3 1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT ...... 5 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES ...... 6 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTION ...... 7 1.6 DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS ...... 8 1.6.1 Basic municipal services ...... 8 1.6.2 Councillor ...... 8 1.6.3 Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) ...... 8 1.6.4 Executive Mayor ...... 8 1.6.5 Evaluation ...... 8 1.6.6 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) ...... 9 1.6.7 Informal settlement ...... 9 1.6.8 North West province ...... 9 1.6.9 Metropolitan municipality ...... 9 1.6.10 Monitoring ...... 10 1.6.11 Municipal council or council ...... 10 1.6.12 Performance ...... 10 1.6.13 Public participation ...... 10 1.6.14 Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan ...... 10 1.6.15 Service delivery protest ...... 11 1.6.16 Ward ...... 11 1.6.17 Ward committees ...... 11 1.6.18 Participant ...... 11

vi 1.6.19 Participant-observation ...... 12 1.7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...... 12 1.7.1 Research approach ...... 12 1.7.2 Research methodology ...... 12 1.7.3 Methods of data gathering ...... 13 1.8 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY ...... 14 CHAPTER 2: CONTEXTUALISING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ...... 18 2.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 18 2.1.1 A search for identity ...... 18 2.1.2 Public Administration versus public administration ...... 19 2.1.3 How to study ‗theory and scope‘ ...... 21 2.2 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ...... 22 2.2.1 Foundation phase ...... 25 2.2.2 Development phase ...... 26 2.3 THEORETICAL CONSTRUCTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ...... 34 2.3.1 Definition of Public Administration and public administration ...... 35 2.3.2 The practice of Public Administration and Management ...... 35 2.4 GENERIC ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ...... 37 2.4.1 Policy and policy-making ...... 38 2.4.2 Financing ...... 44 2.4.3 Personnel provision and use ...... 45 2.4.4 Organising ...... 46 2.4.5 Work methods and procedures ...... 46 2.4.6 Control over the administration ...... 48 2.5 FUTURE TRENDS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION ...... 48 2.6 CONCLUSION ...... 50 CHAPTER 3: COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 51 3.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 51 3.2 THE STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 51 3.2.1 Sovereignty and local government ...... 52 3.2.2 Types of local government ...... 53 3.2.3 The advantages of local government ...... 54

vii 3.2.4 The structure of local government ...... 55 3.3 ORIGIN, NATURE AND REFORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN ...... 56 3.3.1 The Local Government Act (1972) ...... 61 3.3.2 Local Government Commission for (1992) ...... 62 3.3.3 Elections ...... 63 3.3.4 2009 structural changes to local government in England ...... 64 3.3.5 Officials ...... 65 3.3.6 Funding ...... 66 3.4 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN UGANDA ...... 67 3.4.1 Decentralized local government in Uganda ...... 69 3.4.2 Local government structure in Uganda ...... 70 3.4.3 Citizens‘ participation ...... 71 3.4.4 Complaints and response mechanisms ...... 73 3.5 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ...... 74 3.5.1 Appointment of councillors ...... 78 3.5.2 Intergovernmental relations ...... 79 3.6 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ...... 81 3.6.1 Introduction ...... 81 3.6.2 Decentralized local government in Botswana ...... 84 3.7 CONCLUSION ...... 89 CHAPTER 4: SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 91 4.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 91 4.2 LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 92 4.2.1 The foundations and beginnings of local government ...... 92 4.2.2 Local government and the policy of separate development ...... 97 4.2.3 Local government in South Africa, 1993 to 1998 ...... 99 4.2.4 Local government in South Africa, 1998 to 2000 ...... 102 4.2.5 Developmental local government since 2000 ...... 103 4.3 MOVING TOWARDS TRANSITIONAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 104 4.3.1 Local government transformation ...... 104 4.3.2 Evaluation of local government ...... 105 4.3.3 Central tenets of the system ...... 107 4.4 THE NATURE OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL STATE IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 109

viii 4.4.1 The task of the new system ...... 111 4.4.2 Challenges ...... 112 4.5 CONCLUSION ...... 114 CHAPTER 5: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 116 5.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 116 5.2 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN SOUTH AFRICA ...... 118 5.2.1 Key legislation...... 119 5.2.2 The Constitution ...... 120 5.2.3 White Paper on Local Government, 1998 ...... 122 5.2.4 Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 117 of 1998 ...... 123 5.2.5 Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 ...... 124 5.2.6 Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2 of 2000 ...... 124 5.3 DEMOCRACY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ...... 124 5.3.1 Defining democracy ...... 125 5.3.2 Public participation ...... 129 5.3.3 Citizens and public participation ...... 132 5.4 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ...... 134 5.5 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT ...... 135 5.5.1 The advent of the post-apartheid era and a new decision-making culture ...... 135 5.5.2 Public participation in the South African context today ...... 142 5.6 THE VALUE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT 154 5.7 CONCLUSION ...... 164 CHAPTER 6: THE ROLE OF WARD COMMITTEES ...... 167 6.1 INTRODUCTION ...... 167 6.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ...... 169 6.3 ESTABLISHMENT OF WARD COMMITTEES ...... 169 6.4 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE ...... 177 6.5 THE BOJANALA PLATINUM DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY (BPDM) ...... 183 6.5.1 Demographic profile ...... 183 6.5.2 Municipal council ...... 187 6.5.3 Functions and powers of municipal council ...... 203 6.5.4 Constituent local municipalities of the BPDM ...... 206 6.5.5 Relationship between local municipal councils and the BPDM ...... 220

ix 6.5.6 Composition of local municipalities in the BPDM ...... 222 6.5.7 Committees...... 222 6.5.8 Office-bearers ...... 229 6.6 FUNCTIONING OF WARD COMMITTEES IN THE BPDM ...... 235 6.6.1 Ward composition and membership in the BPDM ...... 236 6.6.2 Election procedures and methods of nomination ...... 238 6.6.3 Functions of ward committees ...... 239 6.6.4 Meeting procedures ...... 244 6.7 AREAS WHERE WARD COMMITTEES IN THE BPDM CONTRIBUTE TO, MEASURE, MONITOR AND EVALUATE MUNICIPALITIES‘ PERFORMANCE ...... 245 6.7.1 Integrated Development Planning (IDP) ...... 245 6.7.2 Reports of the Auditor-General ...... 249 6.7.3 Reports of Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPACs) ...... 254 6.7.4 Oversight reports on annual reports ...... 256 6.8 THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE BPDM ...... 258 6.9 BPDM WARD COMMITTEE REPORTS ...... 268 6.9.1 Principal issues ...... 271 6.9.2 Subordinate issues ...... 272 6.10 RESEARCH FINDINGS ...... 272 6.11 CHALLENGES FACING THE BPDM WARD COMMITTEES ...... 274 6.11.1 Lack of citizen involvement ...... 275 6.11.2 Political interference ...... 276 6.11.3 Lack of a structured / co-ordinated plan of action ...... 276 6.12 CONCLUSION ...... 277 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION ...... 278 7.1 CONCLUSIONS ...... 278 7.2 RECOMMENDATIONS ...... 284 7.3 AREAS OF CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ...... 285 REFERENCES ...... 287

x

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1: Process of public policy-making ...... 40 Figure 6.1: North West province ...... 178 Figure 6.2: Population – Bojanala and other district municipalities in North-West ...... 180 Figure 6.3: Settlement pattern of the BPDM ...... 185

xi LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1: Classification of functions performed by public officials ...... 47 Table 6.1: The establishment of ward committees in RSA per province ...... 174 Table 6.2: Percentage of total population, male and female population and area in square kilometres per province ...... 177 Table 6.3: Population, households, area, unemployment rate and population growth rate for North West ...... 179 Table 6.4: Ward committees, vacancies on ward committees, budget allocation and stipend payable in North West ...... 181 Table 6.5: Total population of local municipalities of Bojanala District Municipality ...... 184 Table 6.6: Major employer by sector in BPDM ...... 186 Table 6.7: Demographic profile of the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality ..... 187 Table 6.8: Number of councillors in Bojanala municipality ...... 193 Table 6.9: The functions and powers of the BPDM ...... 205 Table 6.10: Services provided to households ...... 207 Table 6.11: Basic services provided to households in Rustenburg ...... 207 Table 6.12: Composition of Rustenburg local municipality ...... 208 Table 6.13: Services provided to households in Madibeng ...... 209 Table 6.14: Basic services provided to households in Madibeng ...... 210 Table 6.15: Composition of Madibeng Local Municipality ...... 211 Table 6.16: Services provided to households in Kgetleng Rivier ...... 212 Table 6.17: Basic services provided to households in Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality ...... 212 Table 6.18: Composition of Kgetleng Rivier Local Municipality ...... 213 Table 6.19: Services provided to households in Moses Kotane Local Municipality ...... 215 Table 6.20: Basic services provided to households in Moses Kotane Local Municipality ...... 215 Table 6.21: Composition of Moses Kotane Local Municipality ...... 216 Table 6.22: Services provided to households in Moretele Local Municipality ...... 217 Table 6.23: Services provided to households in Moretele ...... 217 Table 6.24: Composition of Moretele local municipality ...... 218 Table 6.25: Houses with access to Basic Services in BPDM municipalities ...... 219 Table 6.26: Houses without access to basic services in BPDM municipalities ..... 219

xii Table 6.27: BPDM Comparison of basic service provision with MDG, RSA and North West ...... 220 Table 6.28: Priorities of local municipalities as they appear in their IDPs ...... 221 Table 6.29: Composition of local municipal councils in Bojanala...... 222 Table 6.30: Composition of ward committees in BPDM local municipalities ...... 236 Table 6.31: Total male and female population and total number of male and female ward committee members per local municipality in BPDM .... 237 Table 6.32: Audit opinions of the AGSA in the BPDM municipalities ...... 252 Table 6.33: Composition of wards and located in traditional authorities in local municipalities ...... 260 Table 6.34: Water projects implemented by the BPDM in the 2011/12 financial year ...... 266 Table 6.35: Projects implemented by the BPDM in the 2011/12 financial year .... 267 Table 6.36: Projects implemented by the BPDM in the 2012/13 financial year .... 267 Table 6.37: Projects implemented by the BPDM in the 2013/14 financial year .... 268 Table 6.38: Total number of ward committee reports submitted to councils in local municipalities of the BPDM, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 ..... 269

xiii LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

ANC African National Congress

AGSA Auditor-General of South Africa

BPDM Bojanala Platinum District Municipality

COGTA Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs

DA Democratic Alliance

DPLG Department of Provincial and Local Government

DPSA Department of Public Service and Administration

IDP(s) Integrated Development Plan(s) / Planning

IDASA Institute for a Democratic South Africa

KPI(s) key performance indicator(s)

MEC Member of the Executive Council

MPAC(s) Municipal Public Accounts Committee(s)

MFMA Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 56 of

2003

PFMA Public Finance Management Act, 1 of 1999

RSA Republic of South Africa

xiv 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 LOCAL SPHERE OF GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

The South African government is well aware of the importance of efficient and effective service delivery for sustainable development and the wellbeing of its citizens – individuals, families and communities. In its effort to promote a sustainable municipal service, the focus of the South African government has increasingly shifted to this critical issue confronting communities today. The South African National Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) is pursuing ways to achieve value-for-money service delivery in all municipalities and to be accountable to the citizens for its stewardship. The ultimate goal of the South African public service currently is to provide services to all South Africans efficiently, effectively and economically, with public participation in the development of those plans. The South African National Department of Co- Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs‘ final goal is to build a responsive, caring and accountable local government (COGTA Back to Basics, 2016:4)

The goal of any government should be to improve the lives of all the people in the . It does so by providing services to the community. As communities grow and become more sophisticated, their need for more and improved services increases (Naidoo, 2004:19). The public service was created to deliver these services, because citizens are unable to satisfy all their own needs, or to perform the activities required for public administration. This implies that the outcomes of public administration are aimed at service delivery. The purpose of public administration is therefore to improve the general welfare of the people. However, it has become increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the people, so other stakeholders need to become actively involved in assisting municipalities.

The demands made by South African communities for service delivery from municipalities have escalated. Local government has often been in the news, sometimes for long periods, particularly in areas where communities have made forceful requests for improved services (Pretorius & Schurink, 2007:19). Communities have complained about and demanded services such as water, sanitation and electricity – in some areas, residents have even claimed houses from

1 municipalities. A study about the root causes of these protests was warranted; one such study was executed by Ababio, Vyas-Doorgapersad and Mzini (2008). Legislation and various guidelines have already been established to achieve the goal of efficient, effective and economical service provision for all citizens, but there are still gaps in the system that need to be addressed, as has become manifest from the continued service delivery protests.

South Africa‘s government structure consists of three spheres which are distinct, but interrelated and interdependent – the national, provincial and local government spheres. However, South African society does not necessarily distinguish clearly between these three spheres of government (Naidoo, 2003). Unfortunately, according to Chandu (2004), the public tends to regard any challenge in one sphere of government as a weakness of the South African public service as a whole.

According to Du Toit, Knipe, Van Niekerk, Van der Waldt and Doyle (2002:82), the first sphere is the national government, which is responsible for the country as a whole. The national government is responsible for policy formulation and for developing national standards, rules and regulations. Examples of services delivered by the national government include protective services, educational services, a range of health services and defence services.

The second sphere consists of the nine provincial governments, each responsible for the delivery of particular services to their communities. Although the South African Parliament is the supreme legislative body, each of the may elect its own provincial council and has been assigned particular powers and functions (Naidoo, 2004:4). The exclusive functional areas of provincial governments include ambulance services, the building and maintenance of provincial roads, provincial planning, veterinary services and library services, in terms of Schedule 5A of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 19961 (RSA, 1996a).

Municipalities are the constituent units of the local sphere of government. They are involved in local issues, such as the building and maintenance of municipal roads and the provision of basic services (water, sanitation and electricity) to residents. Thornhill (2008:492) regards local government as the first point of contact between an individual and a government institution; hence, local government can be referred

1 Hereafter referred to as the Constitution.

2 to as the government that is closest to the people and that is responsible for delivering basic services to local communities. These services include providing water services, supplying electricity and removing refuse and other waste.

Chapter 5 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 20002 (RSA, 2000b) indicates that municipal planning should be developmentally oriented – it states: (1) A municipality must undertake developmentally-oriented planning so as to ensure that it— (a) strives to achieve the objects of local government set out in section 152 of the Constitution; (b) gives effect to its developmental duties as required by section 153 of the Constitution; and (c) together with other organs of state contribute to the progressive realisation of the fundamental rights contained in sections 4, 25, 26, 27 and 29 of the Constitution, 1996.

1.2 RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH

Service delivery in the North West province‘s municipalities is an important requirement for individuals, families, communities and a prerequisite for sustainable development. Improvement of services is urgently needed, as several service delivery protests in the province have shown, especially in the areas around Mothutlung, Majakaneng and Hebron in the Madibeng local municipalities in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality (BPDM) (Times live, 2017:3)

To achieve the national goal of provision of sustainable, efficient, effective and economical municipal service, COGTA needs to engage public participation in the development of plans to promote quality services in this . Most of the developmental backlogs in the North West province are in the rural areas, which are inhabited by disadvantaged communities. It is therefore imperative for them to be actively involved in the process of addressing water provision, electricity, refuse removal and sanitation backlogs through the formal structures of community participation. However, gaining active participation from the local rural population can be challenging.

2 Hereafter referred to as the Municipal Systems Act.

3 This rationale of the study is to determine how planning can be integrated into local government and administration, with specific reference to the effectiveness of community participation in district municipalities in the North West province. The research identifies and assesses weaknesses in integrated development planning, municipal financial performance drivers and community participation with the purpose of enhancing the provincial government‘s goal of improving the quality of life of all citizens in the North West province. A new ward-based framework is proposed for planning in local government to augment existing planning mechanisms. This new framework could contribute to the effectiveness of municipal government and administration.

The study identifies challenges which impede the provision of basic service delivery in district municipalities, particularly in districts located in mining belt areas, such as the BPDM. It also analyses integrated development planning and the current status of service delivery in the North West‘s district municipalities. The study recommends a planning framework for South African municipalities that would improve service delivery with optimum public participation, and could reduce service delivery protests. The adoption of a different approach to planning is warranted because the number of service delivery protests is increasing. The study demonstrates that ward-based planning could improve service delivery performance.

Thus the study attempts to scientifically develop a new framework for planning in local government as part of the effort to augment service delivery. This new framework may enhance the effectiveness of government in a focused and systematic manner. A scientific analysis is done of different approaches to improve the quality of municipal service in the North West province.

The study provides academic input into public administration, specifically in the area of improving service delivery performance and financial performance management in municipalities. The study could contribute to a reduction in the number of service delivery protests if the conceptual framework suggested is put into practice nationally within the municipalities, and it is monitored effectively. It could contribute to the establishment of effective ward-based planning systems to increase ward participation, match budgets and expenditure, and align the municipalities‘ Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and key performance

4 indicators (KPIs) for a particular ward. The proposed model should obtain support from the communities, because they will be involved in the process, from the planning to the implementation stage.

The significance of the study is its contribution to the method of Integrated Development Planning (IDP) in the local sphere of government for implementation. Frequent service delivery protests show that South African municipalities are not currently succeeding in managing community participation through the existing mechanisms, processes and procedures to enable local communities to participate in the affairs of the municipality, in line with Section 17(2) of the Municipal Systems Act