Wits School of Governance (ETDs)

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End date: 2024Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities

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    A multi-theoretical analysis of the complexity of land reform policy formulation in post- apartheid South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Jurgens, Richard Bartholomew; Hobden, hristine
    Recent years have seen a highly polarised public debate about land reform, centring on the question of whether the ANC government should seek to amend the Constitution to allow for the expropriation of land without compensation. The ANC finally adopted expropriation without compensation as its policy on land reform in 2018, a position on the question that appears to be a significant shift from its more reconciliation-led approach in the early democratic years. This dissertation analyses the land reform debate between 1994 and 2018 through a multi- theoretical lens, focusing, firstly, on the ANC-led government’s approach to policy formulation and implementation in this period, and secondly, on its approach to the parliamentary inquiry that it sponsored in 2018 to establish the public’s views on expropriation without compensation. Two related theories, the wicked problem framework, and framing theory, are used to shed light on the ANC’s approach to shaping the public debate on land reform during the period under review. An accountability model is used to evaluate the Joint Constitutional Review Committee’s approach to public engagement during its inquiry in 2018. The use of a multi-theoretical approach aims to provide new insights into the complexity of the land reform debate, and, at the same time, to illustrate the value and utility of theoretical tools in complex policy questions.
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    Community participation in rural development at Ga-Maja in the Limpopo Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Tema, Mokgatla Bernice; Khumalo, John
    Public participation in development, in South Africa, is embraced in the country’s Constitution and various legislative and policy frameworks. Despite this, participation is not adequately institutionalised in government, including in local government. The purpose of this study is to explore how community members perceive community participation in decision-making about and implementation of rural development programmes. The research is a qualitative case study with focus on the village of Ga-Maja in the Limpopo province. The research has, among others, found that the community is not fully engaged in its development. It has also established that conflict between the ward councillors and the traditional leadership is a hindrance to community participation in development. This conflict is largely caused by the vague description of the role of traditional leadership in government’s policy documents. Accordingly, government should empower the traditional leadership to play a definitive role in the development of rural communities
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    An exploration into change management perceptions and approaches of two provincial government departments
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ndlovu, Zibusiso Khethiwe; Hobden, Christine
    Change in the South African public sector is unavoidable due to the turbulent political and economic climate and developing technologies presented to us by the 4th industrial revolution. It is widely acknowledged that organizational change is often plagued by failure, however, this study argues that contextual organisational dimensions such as deep structures and change ownership are frequently overlooked in public sector change management discussions. This prompted a qualitative case study between two Gauteng Provincial Government departments. This design enabled an in-depth exploration of approaches to change management in the two different departments to gain a better understanding of change management approaches within the GPG. Data was collected from recorded 30–60-minute semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants (senior, middle, and junior management staff in the respective provincial departments) identified through purposive criterion & snowball sampling. Interviews were transcribed identifying emerging themes and codes aligned to answering the research questions. Additionally, a desktop review of academic literature, departmental documents, and reports was undertaken to gain deeper contextual understanding and perspective of the GPG change management landscape. The study results revealed that the nature of change is characterised by a lack of ownership and poor reinforcement of change in the GPG. Furthermore, that communication within GPG exists, however, it doesn’t always filter down to the lowest employees
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    Municipalities and the provision of alternative accommodation to evicted residents
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Wetbooi, Nomalizo S.; Abrahams, Cayrn
    The demand for housing in South Africa is more than what the state can provide. This is demonstrated by reported cases of unauthorized occupation of land and the increased litigation in housing rights rendering housing as the most litigated socio-economic right in the constitutional democracy. Although there have been laws such as PIE in place to deal with procedural requirements of eviction, illegal eviction has continued to take place in municipalities. Provision for alternative accommodation has become a strict requirement for the courts to grant eviction. The responsibility to provide alternative accommodation has been given to municipalities. The research explores challenges accompanied by the provision of alternative accommodation by municipalities to evicted residents through a case study by the City of Tshwane
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    Public Participation in the Integrated Development Plan: A Case of Madibeng Local Municipality, North-West Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Pilane, Mmamodikwe Violet; Ndhlovu, Hlengiwe
    This study is premised on the argument that the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) remains an integral platform for engaging local communities through inclusive participation in the planning, implementation and reviewing of service delivery priorities. When processes, as outlined in the legislative prescripts, are not rolled out accordingly, there is a risk of public officials using IDPs as a compliance tool, while local communities consequently turn it into a platform for contestation of competing development interests. This research explores the role of public participation in the IDP processes with specific attention drawn to the Madibeng Local Municipality in the North-West province. I argue that; while public participation remains an important pillar for facilitating consultative governance within local municipalities; different understandings of its purpose and processes, coupled with longstanding service delivery challenges, have turned the IDP processes into a platform for interrogating service delivery needs for communities whereas public officials view it as a compliance process despite it not yielding positive results. This is regardless of the provisions in the South African Constitution and other acts that govern municipalities that provide processes for inclusive government and obligates local government to adhere to these. Thus, continued service delivery related protests in Madibeng Local Municipality, that are over a decade old, suggest that there is a disjuncture between the service delivery priorities as articulated by community members and the actual services that are delivered on the ground by the municipality. Therefore, the argument pursued in this report suggests that democratisation of IDPs to open up for meaningful participation by allowing communities to lead the process, has an opportunity to transform IDPs into an effective process for effective service delivery and development. The study employs an explanatory research design to understand how and why Madibeng Local Municipality reports influx of service delivery related protests when it is not exempted from the local government legislative prescript that guide the processes of inclusive governance. Evidence presented throughout the report draws from a qualitative research design that triangulates semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation as the main methods of data collection. Data was collected to interrogate the dislocation between what the legislation dictates insofar public participation in the IDP and the ensuing implementation thereof.
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    Implementation of the institutional plans in the Gauteng provincial legislature
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-02) Ngonini, Yolanda; Pillay, Pudy
    This research examined the implementation of institutional plans in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). This research applied a qualitative design with the aid of a case study. Research respondents were chosen through a purposive selection. Semi- structured interviews were utilised in collecting data and thematic analysis is applied in the analysis of the data gathered. Institutional plan implementation was shown to be a critical part of the GPL and its effectiveness determined the extent to which the GPL could deliver its mandate as enshrined in the Constitution. The research further revealed that the plans were usually quarterly or annual, depending on the anticipated targets of the GPL. However, despite ensuring the effective implementation of the institutional plans, the research revealed that this process was undermined by several factors, chief amongst them being the inability of those in the top echelons of the GPL to include all key interested parties in the planning process. Failing to involve those with a high stake and influence in the GPL plans meant that the implementation was marred by bottlenecks. In light of these challenges, the research recommends the need to apply a multi-stakeholder approach in the planning and implementing of institutional plans in South African provincial legislatures. Effective communication was also identified as a missing link, hence there is a need to address this challenge by ensuring that implementing institutional plans within the GPL is a process that is inclusive and accommodating the needs stakeholders directly or indirectly involved
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    Service Delivery Protests and Local Governance: The Case of Newcastle Local Municipality
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Ngidi, Mlungisi Patrick
    The purpose of this study was to explore dynamics that led to service delivery protests between 2018 and 2020 in the Newcastle Local Municipality and how local governments can effectively address the grievances of their constituents. Supposedly, the topical prevalent service delivery protests, in countless cases, have become violent, and such manifestations cannot be ignored. The study was conceptualised around the framework of escalating occurrence and scale of service delivery protests in South Africa in general, and in particular, local government. Notwithstanding, the first few years of democracy saw a decline in protests, some groups and movements protested. Nevertheless, since 2005, when service delivery protests took national prominence, South Africa has witnessed increased levels of dramatic protests. This study was based on the fact that no political democracy can continue and thrive if the number of its people continues experiencing conditions that they experienced under the apartheid government, such as poverty, inequality and unemployment, and with no forecasts of better living conditions. The occurrence of service delivery protests in local governance invited this research and raised this question, what are the dynamics that led to service delivery protests that occurred between 2018 and 2020 in the Newcastle Local Municipality and how local governments can address the grievances of their constituents effectively? This study had four specific research objectives: (i) To examine the root causes of service delivery protests in Newcastle local municipality; (ii) To explore the perceptions of local community members in Newcastle around provision of basic services by their municipality; (iii) To determine the gaps in capacity and expectations of local community on provision of services in Newcastle local municipality; And (iv) To explore the relationship between service providers in Newcastle and local community in relation to resolving disputes around service delivery. This study used three sub-theories of Social Movement Theory (SMT), namely Political Opportunity Structure Approach, Resource Mobilisation Theory, and Framing Process Theory, to assess the situations that stimulate service delivery protests, the protesters’ interpretation of their society, and their motives for protests This study used a qualitative research approach. Primary data were gathered using focus group interviews with the population from Osizweni and Charlestown townships; a total of 20 community members (organisers of service delivery protests) were recruited to participate in this study. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit participants in this study, and they ranged between 18 to 55 years old. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data sets which generated eight themes around the issue of the dynamics that contributed to the emergence of service delivery protests in local governance. Research findings expose that research participants’ displeasure with service delivery is shaped by numerous issues, such as unfulfilled political promises, unequal access to services, provision of substandard services, high rate of unemployment, nepotism, corruption and favouritism, political tensions, leadership derailment and incompetence, and high levels of poverty, including disparities which originate from the post-apartheid regime. The study is pertinent at this point since numerous African municipalities are facing comparable service delivery challenges
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    Trust in institutions and implications for the social contract
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Ndofirepi, Tafadzwa Glory; Hobden, Christine
    This research explores the relationship that trust in institutions, more explicitly trust in the police, has with the social contract in South Africa. Trust in one another, in institutions, and in leaders are all essential components of social and economic improvement (Gould & Hijzen, 2017) because they encourage people to collaborate and stand in solidarity (Perry, 2021, p. 1). When people are not given equal opportunities economically, income gaps are likely because some are acquiring more\ than others, and this "erodes a general sense of trust" (Gould & Hijzen, 2017, p. 38). Research done by the General Social Survey for the United States "shows that trust is lower in states where inequality is high" (Alesina & La Ferrera, 2002; Rothstein & Uslaner, 2005, as cited in Gould & Hijzen, 2017, p. 38). Economic security and equality stand as some of the critical duties of the state and its institutions and as some of the fundamental anchors of the social contract between the government and its population (Perry, 2021, p. 3). When economic uncertainty spreads, as evidenced by the uncertainty that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, trust in institutions may suf
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    Exploring Data Usage in Implementing the Zimbabwe Orphan Care Policy in Harare Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mutsikiwa , Eziwe; Van Nierkerk, Robert
    There is need to understand the reasons why most government departments and implementing organisations do not fully use data and evidence when implementing public policies such as the Zimbabwe Orphan Care Policy (ZOCP). Understanding these reasons is vital for crafting a Page v of 114 prescriptive framework for data utilisation in all interventions towards improved decision making. A growing body of evidence suggests that most child protection interventions in developing countries do not surpass a ceiling of 65% with regards to data utilisation (see Garribet al., 2009; Andualem, Kebede, and Kumie, 2013). Zimbabwe is not an exception to this challenge. Rusakaniko et al. (2016) used a sharp increase of 82% in child protection cases between 2018 and 2021 to demonstrate that there is limited data usage in the implementation of the ZOCP. If data and evidence was fully utilised, such a sharp increase would not have been experienced. The Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) introduced a compulsory Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system in 2019 with the view of promoting use of data and evidence in implementing the ZOCP. To date, no known empirical research has focused on assessing the extent to which M&E best practice are being used following the introduction of the M&E system, and the reasons behind limited data usage despite its compulsory introduction. This study set out to examine the underlying reasons behind limited use of data and evidence in the implementation of the ZOCP and proffer a workable data usage framework considering the identified contextual reasons. The study was designed as single-holistic situational study of Harare Province, Zimbabwe. It was single because only one of the ten provinces in Zimbabwe was used and it was holistic because it focused on all data usage parameters to unveil the reasons behind limited data utilisation by the Department of Social Development (DSD). Within the case study, documentary review was used as the main evoker of experiences in Zimbabwe and elsewhere regard data usage by government departments such as the DSD. Then, one-on-one in-depth interviews with 6 DSD employees, 4 Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) employees, and 2 counterfactual interviewees were carried out. All of respondents were purposively chosen because of the exposure, experience, and expertise they have in working in the child protection space. This thesis confirmed that reasons for limited data usage can be broadly grouped into quality, capacity and institutional factors. However, the study extended and clarified this by demonstrating that everything rises and falls with institutional factors. Institutional factors (are partly shaped by acts of invisible politics) determine the capacity of the DSD with regards to budgetary allocation, disbursement of work tools, hiring of practicing professionals, and giving them opportunities to upskill. The capacity factors, in turn, influence the quality factors such as adherence to M&E best practices. This confirmation, extension, and clarification led to the development of a unified framework for data usage discussed in Section 4.8. It is evidently clear from the findings that if much emphasis is placed on re-orienting institutional factors towards full adoption of the M&E system introduced in 2019, other factors will follow suit, and the decision-making process will improve
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    A formative evaluation of Johannesburg's Diepkloof Hostel housing intervention
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mchunu, Lindiwe; Wotela, Kambidima
    It is evident that the apartheid system was created for the sole benefit of South Africa’s White population and that this political structure led to many imbalances in the provision of basic services, land allocation and participation in the economy. Apartheid’s spatial planning was at the forefront of the creation of these imbalances through establishments such as the migrant hostels. Therefore, this study seeks to conduct a formative evaluation of fundamental government interventions intended to address social problems, such as housing, by using the Diepkloof hostel as a case study. Several studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the Community Residential Units programme. However, there is limited interrogation on the programme’s impact on the Diepkloof hostel. To this end, the study employs a qualitative approach and uses thematic content analysis to interrogate the contributing factors that lead to the mis-formulation of fundamental interventions. Findings show that mis-formulation and poor implementation is caused by mismanagement and corruption, the lack of regulatory controls, transparency, and clear communication. The study recommends an efficient monitoring and evaluation process for strengthen the housing interventions among other things