The effectiveness of integrated development plans in the Free State
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Date
2007/05/31
Authors
Human, Frieda Mariè
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Afrikaans: Die geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne wat deur plaaslike munisipaliteite opgestel word,
is ‘n meganisme wat gebruik behoort te word om die volhoubare ontwikkeling van sowel
landelike as stedelike gebiede te verseker, deur agterstande in dienslewering, die hoë
vlakke van armoede en werkloosheid aan te spreek. Die geïntegreerde
ontwikkelingsplanne deur die munisipaliteite ontwikkel (hierdie studie fokus op drie
plaaslike munisipaliteite in the Vrystaat) voldoen egter nie aan hierdie doelwit nie as
gevolg van ‘n aantal uitdagings, waarvan drie gedurende hierdie studie ondersoek is.
Eerstens, word ontwikkelingsindikatore gedurende ontwikkelingsbeplanning gebruik om
te verseker dat ontwikkelingsinitiatiewe gemeet kan word en ook om te verseker dat
besluitnemers op plaaslike regeringsvlak verantwoording kan doen (Artikel Een).
Ontwikkelingsindikatore stel munisipaliteite in staat om besluite te neem oor die
strategiese gebruik van skaars hulpbronne en vorm daarom ‘n belangrike deel van ‘n
Geïntegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan. Die studie ondersoek die gebruik van
ontwikkelingsindikatore in die geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne van die drie
munisipaliteite ten einde die kritiese gebrek aan genoegsame indikatore te beklemtoon.
Die gevolg hiervan vir ontwikkelingsbeplanning en plaaslike regering word ook bespreek.
Tweedens word gemeenskapsdeelname in geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning
bespreek, gebaseer op die teorie van gemeenskapsdeelname op ‘n internasionale en
nasionale vlak (Artikel Twee). Die fokus van die bespreking is op die verskillende vlakke
van gemeenskapsdeelname asook die benaderings tot en metodes van deelname. Daar
word ook gekyk na die faktore wat deelname beïnvloed en die vereistes vir effektiewe
deelname. Die proses van gemeenskapsdeelname in die geïntegreede
ontwikkelingsbeplanningsproses in die drie munisipaliteite word dan op grond van
bogenoemde faktore geëvalueer met die fokus op die geneigdheid om die gemeenskap te
betrek, slegs om aan die vereistes van wetgewing te voldoen eerder as om die gemeenskap
te bemagtig. Derdens word plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling binne die drie
munisipaliteite ondersoek (Artikel Drie). Die studie fokus hier op die strategiese
benaderings wat gevolg word tot plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling, gebaseer op
internasionale en nasionale riglyne. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat plaaslike
ekonomiese ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe meestal uit klein kapitale projekte bestaan en nie
gesien word as deel van enige munisipale projek nie. Die huidige inisiatiewe spreek ook nie die strukturele probleme wat met klein dorpies vereenselwig word aan nie. Plaaslike
ekonomiese ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe word nie bepaal deur ‘n strategiese benadering nie
wat veroorsaak dat hul meestal onvolhoubaar is en permanent afhanklik van munisipale
befondsing. Ten slotte word daar gekyk na die hoofbevindinge uit die drie artikels en
aanbevelings word gemaak om die gebruik van ontwikkelingsindikatore,
gemeenskapsdeelname en plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling op die plaaslike
regeringsvlak te verbeter.
English: The Integrated Development Plans developed by local municipalities are the tool that should be used to ensure the sustainable development of both urban and rural areas through combating service-delivery backlogs and also high levels of unemployment and poverty. Yet, the IDPs developed by municipalities (the study focuses on three local municipalities in the Free State) often fall short of achieving this objective as a result of various obstacles, three of which were subjected to scrutiny during this research. Firstly, the use of development indicators aims to ensure the measurability of development initiatives, thereby also ensuring the accountability of decision makers in local government (Paper One). Development indicators guide municipalities in the allocation of scarce resources to those areas where they are most needed and, therefore form an essential part of an IDP. This paper explores the use of these indicators in the IDPs of the three local municipalities in order to demonstrate the critical absence of adequate development indicators in the IDPs. The implications for development planning and local governance are also discussed. Secondly, community participation in development planning will be discussed on the basis of the theory of community participation at both the international and the national level (Paper Two). The focus of the discussions is on levels of participation, as well as approaches to and methods of participation. The factors affecting community participation and the preconditions for effective community participation are also considered. The process of community participation in integrated development planning in the three local municipalities is evaluated, with a particular focus on the dangers of the tendency to engage in community participation in the IDP process for the sole purpose of compliance with legislation rather than for community empowerment. Thirdly, local economic development within the three municipalities is examined (Paper Three). The research focuses on the strategic approaches to Local Economic Development, in accordance with international and national guidelines, suggesting that in most cases, LED is limited to a number of small capital projects, and that it is neither regarded as an integral part of all projects, nor directed at addressing the real structural problems associated with small towns. These LED projects are identified haphazardly with no strategic approach or guidelines, and this leads to their being both unsustainable and dependent on continuous funding. In conclusion, the thesis presents principal findings and recommendations to alleviate the challenges presented with regard to the use of development indicators, community participation and local economic development at the local government level.
English: The Integrated Development Plans developed by local municipalities are the tool that should be used to ensure the sustainable development of both urban and rural areas through combating service-delivery backlogs and also high levels of unemployment and poverty. Yet, the IDPs developed by municipalities (the study focuses on three local municipalities in the Free State) often fall short of achieving this objective as a result of various obstacles, three of which were subjected to scrutiny during this research. Firstly, the use of development indicators aims to ensure the measurability of development initiatives, thereby also ensuring the accountability of decision makers in local government (Paper One). Development indicators guide municipalities in the allocation of scarce resources to those areas where they are most needed and, therefore form an essential part of an IDP. This paper explores the use of these indicators in the IDPs of the three local municipalities in order to demonstrate the critical absence of adequate development indicators in the IDPs. The implications for development planning and local governance are also discussed. Secondly, community participation in development planning will be discussed on the basis of the theory of community participation at both the international and the national level (Paper Two). The focus of the discussions is on levels of participation, as well as approaches to and methods of participation. The factors affecting community participation and the preconditions for effective community participation are also considered. The process of community participation in integrated development planning in the three local municipalities is evaluated, with a particular focus on the dangers of the tendency to engage in community participation in the IDP process for the sole purpose of compliance with legislation rather than for community empowerment. Thirdly, local economic development within the three municipalities is examined (Paper Three). The research focuses on the strategic approaches to Local Economic Development, in accordance with international and national guidelines, suggesting that in most cases, LED is limited to a number of small capital projects, and that it is neither regarded as an integral part of all projects, nor directed at addressing the real structural problems associated with small towns. These LED projects are identified haphazardly with no strategic approach or guidelines, and this leads to their being both unsustainable and dependent on continuous funding. In conclusion, the thesis presents principal findings and recommendations to alleviate the challenges presented with regard to the use of development indicators, community participation and local economic development at the local government level.
Description
Local government -- South Africa -- Free State
Keywords
Local government -- South Africa -- Free State, Community development -- South Africa -- Free State, Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Free State, Integrated Development Plan, Dissertation (MDS (Development Studies))--University of the Free State, 2007, Development Indicators, Community Participation, Local Economic Development