Implementing integrated strategic plans in Free State municipalities
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Date
Feb-13
Authors
Du Plessis, Lyndon Mark
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Afrikaans: Plaaslike regering in Suid Afrika vorm deel van 'n oorhoofse staatsbestelook bestaande
uit nasionale en provinsiale regering. Saam is huloorhoofse doelom die algemene
welsyn van die bevolikng te bevorder deur middel van dienslewering en
ontwikkelingsinisiatiewe.
Vir die doeleinde om dienste te lewer en ontwikkeling te bevorder, is plaaslike regering
van besondere belang, omdat dit die regeringsagentskap verteenwoordig met wie
landsburgers eerste in kontak kom. Die plaaslike sfeer van regering het fundamentele
transformasie ondergaan, beide vanuit 'n politieke sowel as strukturele oogpunt.
Addisioneel daartoe dat plaaslike regering demokratiese strukture geword het binne die
algehele demokratisering van Suid Afrika, het die benadering tot, asook die strukture
van munisipaliteite ook dramaties verander. Munisipaliteite, die organisatoriese
eenhede van plaaslike regering, het dus die doelom hierdie "nuwe" doelwitte van
plaaslike regering n ate streef binne 'n veranderde omgewing.
Een van die besondere veranderinge wat in in die bestuur van munisipaliteite ingestel
is, is die gebruik van 'n geïntegreerde strategiese benadering tot organisatoriese
beplanning. Dit is gefasiliteer deur wetgewende hervorming wat voorsiening maak vir
munisipaliteite om geïntegreerde ontwikkelingsplanne (GOPs) saam te stel, en dit saam
met begrotings en prestasiebestuurstelsels te gebruik, om dienslewering en
ontwikkeling binne hul areas van jurisdiksie te bevorder. Daarom verwysing na die term
geïntegreerde strategiese beplanning.
Die instelling van hierdie nuwe stelsel was egeter nie sonder uitdagings, met
ontevredenheid oor diensvlakke van munisipaliteite wat deur negatiewe verslagdoening
deur verskeie openbare rolspelers uitgespreek is, sowel as deur plaaslike
gemeenskappe wat hulontevredenheid deur protesaksie begin illustreer het. 'n Kritiese
vraag sentreer daarom rondom waarom daar so 'n hoë vlak van ontevredenheid oor
munisipale dienslewering is, ten spyte van wetgewende maatreëls om verbeterde
munisipale beplanning te bevorder.
Hierdie tesis het daarom ondersoek ingestel na die implementering van geïntegreerde
strategiese planne in munisipaliteite in die Vrystaat om vas te stel watter tipiese faktore
bygedra het tot die onvermoë van munisipaliteite om sulke planne te implementer.
Aanbevelings, op grond van die empiriese en literatuurnavorsing, is voorts verskaf, met
die oog daarop om die huidige stand van sake te verbeter, in die Vrystaat, maar ook in
die res van Suid Afrika.
English: Local government in South Africa forms part of an overall state system also consisting of national and provincial government. Together their main objective is to promote the general welfare of the populace through service delivery and development initiatives. For the purpose of delivering services and promoting development local government is of significant importance as it is the state agency that citizens firstly come into contact with. The local sphere of government has undergone fundamental transformation, both from a political and structural point of view. In addition to local government becoming democratic structures in line with the overall democratisation of South Africa, the approach to and actual municipal structures also changed dramatically. Municipalities, the organisational units of local government, have the task of pursuing the "new" goals of local government within this changed environment. One of the significant changes that have been introduced into municipal management is the utilisation of an integrated strategic approach to organisational planning. This has been facilitated by legislative reform that provides for municipalities to compile integrated development plans (IDPs) and utilise it, together with budgets and performance management systems, to promote service delivery and development in their areas of jurisdiction. Therefore reference to the term integrated strategic planning. The introduction of this new system has, however, not been flawless with dissatisfaction about the service levels of municipalities being expressed through negative reporting on municipal performance from a variety of public role-players as well as through local communities illustrating their dissatisfaction through protest action. A critical question
English: Local government in South Africa forms part of an overall state system also consisting of national and provincial government. Together their main objective is to promote the general welfare of the populace through service delivery and development initiatives. For the purpose of delivering services and promoting development local government is of significant importance as it is the state agency that citizens firstly come into contact with. The local sphere of government has undergone fundamental transformation, both from a political and structural point of view. In addition to local government becoming democratic structures in line with the overall democratisation of South Africa, the approach to and actual municipal structures also changed dramatically. Municipalities, the organisational units of local government, have the task of pursuing the "new" goals of local government within this changed environment. One of the significant changes that have been introduced into municipal management is the utilisation of an integrated strategic approach to organisational planning. This has been facilitated by legislative reform that provides for municipalities to compile integrated development plans (IDPs) and utilise it, together with budgets and performance management systems, to promote service delivery and development in their areas of jurisdiction. Therefore reference to the term integrated strategic planning. The introduction of this new system has, however, not been flawless with dissatisfaction about the service levels of municipalities being expressed through negative reporting on municipal performance from a variety of public role-players as well as through local communities illustrating their dissatisfaction through protest action. A critical question
Description
Thesis (Ph.D. (Public Administration and Management))--University of the Free State, 2013
Keywords
Local government, Institutional reform, Local autonomy, Integrated strategic planning, Policy implementation, Strategic planning -- South Africa -- Free State, Local government -- South Africa -- Free State