Collaboration and by-laws enforcement in the City of Johannesburg
Date
2016-06-04
Authors
Baholo, M H
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Abstract
The post-1994 era in South Africa meant that apartheid laws such as the
Group Areas Act could no longer restrict the movement of people into the urban areas where they moved in search of economic opportunities. In addition, migrant workers and asylum seekers were also keen to benefit from the expanding economy of Johannesburg. In later years, housing shortages and unemployment resulted in people residing in Johannesburg‟s public open spaces. However, residing in public open spaces is an
infringement of the by-laws of the City of Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department is mandated by
legislation to enforce by-laws. Due to the magnitude of the challenge of homelessness, it has become difficult for the police to enforce those by- laws. Based on the shift from conventional to modern policing strategies, collaboration with other stakeholders will assist the municipal police in
ensuring that the enforcement of by-laws is effective.
For this research project, the researcher utilised the qualitative approach.
The sample used comprised one respondent from a non-governmental organisation and five officials from the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan
Council.
The key findings indicated that lack of collaboration is a factor leading to the
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department experiencing challenges in enforcing by-laws. The findings also showed that while attempts are being made by various stakeholders to address homelessness, such endeavours are not effective because they lack proper guidelines that inform multi-
stakeholder collaboration.
The recommendations cover a broader area of utilisation of development
strategies and planning to review policing approaches in the City with the objective of improving by-law enforcement. Recommendations will also
propose that
stakeholders perspectives.
collaboration should be a phenomenon so
dynamic that
need
to
approach
it from
academic
and
other
related
I
Description
This is a research report for the School of Public and
Development Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master‟s Degree in Public and Development Management
March, 2015