On the ground/from the ground : The construction of neighbourhood visions by two local leaders : a comparative study of Yeoville and Dobsonville
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Date
2013-07-22
Authors
Mkwanazi, Eulenda.
Journal Title
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Abstract
The
systems
put
into
place
to
make
local
government
developmental
and
which
foster
participation
have
been
seen
as
failing
communities.
The
elected
local
councillors
who
are
the
face
of
local
government
have
been
targeted
as
being
disconnected
from
their
constituencies.
The
notion
that
having
local
councillors
to
offer
proximity
to
local
communities
and
to
better
engage
the
government
on
behalf
of
communities
has
also
been
criticised,
as
often
processes
are
undemocratic,
and
the
powers
and
functions
of
local
activists
are
limited.
More
and
more
communities
are
seeking
representatives
with
whom
they
are
able
to
identify
with,
and
who
have
vested
interests
in
community
wellbeing.
There
has
been
an
increase
lately
in
the
number
of
candidates
running
independently
for
positions
as
councillors,
in
response
to
community
action.
The
research
aims
to
understand
the
dynamics
and
challenges
of
leaders
who
work
closely
with
communities.
The
role
of
leaders
working
on
the
ground
becomes
more
and
more
pertinent
as
communities
seek
out
leaders
who
can
relate
to
their
needs
and
translate
them
into action.
The
thesis
looks
essentially
at
what
is
means
for
activists
to
work
closely
with
communities,
and
how
this
positioning
on
the
ground
allows
them
to
influence
spatial
change.
It
looks
at
the
role
of
two
grounded
activists
Maurice
Smithers
and
Japhta
Lekgetho
who
reside
in
Yeoville
and
Dobsonville
respectively
and
the
strategies
they
employ
in
order
to
be
able
to
impact
their
communities.
The
study
looks
at
how
these
two
activists
construct
neighbourhood
visions
and
translate
them
into
action.
Key
Terms:
On
the
ground,
vision,
community
activism,
local
leadership,
Maurice
Smithers,
Japhta
Lekgetho