Matshaya, Zintle Apiwe2024-05-202024-05-202023https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38517Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of masters in management in the field of governance (development and economics) faculty of commerce, law and management, University of WitwatersrandThis study examines the District Development Model’s (DDM) impact on service delivery and socioeconomic development in the O.R. Tambo region of the Eastern Cape. The South African government has faced challenges in reducing service delivery backlogs due to insufficient project planning and implementation tools. The preservation of the independence of the three branches of government is a pivotal aspect of South African democracy and governance, albeit one that may impede government efficacy. The notion that the three branches of government ought to operate independently has impeded cooperation. The DDM methodology advocates for fostering interdependence among spheres as a means of enhancing their respective independence. The DDM facilitates the synchronisation of project planning, budget allocation, and execution throughout the three governmental spheres. The initiative fosters inter- sectoral cooperation aimed at tackling socioeconomic challenges within a given district, such as poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. The DDM is an implementation strategy that is derived from the Constitution (Section 154) and aims to eradicate bureaucratic barriers within the government. District municipalities and their respective hubs serve as a means to localise government planning, budgeting, and implementation. This study employed a qualitative research design, which involved conducting interviews with government officials from all three spheres, as well as distributing questionnaires to other participants. These strategies were devised to gather DDM perspectives from various offices and spheres. The utilisation of government documents such as reports and policies served as a means of triangulation and enhancement of the research. The study finds that the utilisation of the DDM serves as an intervention strategy to facilitate the successful completion of projects and attainment of policy objectives by government agencies. The study also identified systemic and structural challenges that hinder the effective execution of the policy throughout the governmental apparatus. Enhancement of stakeholder involvement is imperative to ensure 2 institutional cognizance and acceptance of the DDM. The involvement of the public via intergovernmental relations structures and oversight systems was deemed to be of utmost importance. The research revealed that the misplacement of the DDM within municipalities acted as an obstacle to the integration of Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP). The successful implementation of the DDM, being an operational plan, necessitates the application of pragmatism. The research findings indicate that the adherence and execution of DDM necessitate more robust legal mandates. This report provides recommendations for further research on the DDM. The text examines the potential of the DDM and the possible obstacles that may arise during its national implementation or the implementation of analogous governmental innovations or policiesen© University of the Witswatersrand, JohannesburgDISTRICT DEVELOPMENT MODELSOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGESO.R. TAMBO DISTRICTSDG-8: Decent work and economic growthDissertation