WARD BASED PLANNING TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY: THE CASE OF NORTH WEST DISTRICT MUNICIPALITIES 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 village. 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 Municipality. 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 District Municipality, 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 community 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 province‘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 local government with international countries 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 districts 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 ........................................................................