1. INTRODUCTION
In post-apartheid South Africa, access to sufficient and effective basic services cannot be viewed as a privilege, but as a right that must be granted to all citizens especially the previously disadvantaged. The local government is the only sphere that is able to manage and implement this right. The provision of public services to the community is an indicator that is used to determine whether local government is being developmental. Public participation is essential to ensure that the community’s needs are taken into consideration and disparate areas are prioritized with the resources that are available. The Integrated Development Plan was developed to ensure that local government implements its constitutional obligations of managing structures and programs that will ensure service delivery, social and economic development in conjunction with the provincial and national spheres. The aim of the document is to determine whether the Integrated Development Plan is an effective strategic planning tool by assessing the objectives, process, impact or intended results and citizen participation in the process.
1.1. BACKGROUND
The concept of Integrated Development Planning has its roots from the United Nation Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Rio-Conference adopted Agenda 21 as a blue print for sustainable development. All member states were called upon to implement Agenda 21 by developing locally tailored-Agenda 21 called Local Agenda 21. South Africa embraced the principles of Agenda 21 in developing Integrated Development Plans; thus rendering IDPs – Local Agenda 21 for South Africa. Furthermore Agenda 21 principles are embedded in the Constitution of South Africa and in...
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...nable ways to solve them. The IDP is a participative process that allows for engagement from various role-players. The mere voicing of development priorities during the public participation process without financial implementation, lack of integration from the three spheres of government especially the provincial government that fails to plan with local government to solve local issues and strategic engagements hamper the strategic and developmental intent of the IDP. Training should be provided for the Mayor, Political and Department heads and Municipal Manager about the importance of the IDP process and the role it potentially could play in transforming communities socially, economically and environmentally in the municipality. The Integrated Development Plan should be assessed not on implementation but on whether it has achieved its intended goals and objectives.
parallels to current events. District 9 is a movie with such a message, and its message
During Imperialistic times South Africa was a region of great resources that was greatly disputed over (Ellis). Europe’s main goal during these times was to compete against each other and played a “game” of which country can imperialize more African countries than the other. Imperialism was a curse to South Africa, because many wars, laws, and deaths were not necessary and would not have happened if South Africa were not imperialized.
The problem however, with these “renewal projects” is that the implemented changes are never usually intended to benefit the long time inhabitants of these communities, these changes are intended usually, to push out the element of poverty that exists in many of these communities (which is a direct result of decades of neglect) in exchange for the opportunity to cater to a more affluent (usually less “ethnic”) demographic. In laymen’s terms, city planners, elected officials, prospective businesses, and even law enforcement, all converge for the purpose of removing poor people from an area by simply making it too pleasant and by exten...
Source A gives a view on the South African governments control over its people and racial discrimination. It is a biased view and makes the South African government seem cruel and racist. It states that the governments "politics are determined by the colour a persons skin". As this is a statement it gives the impression that it is a fact and by giving this impression it also communicates the idea that the South African government IS racist, rather than the South African government COULD be racist. This comes as no real surprise as the advert has been paid for by the ANC (African National Congress), who are a very anti - South African government organization.
on him or her. Unless it was stamped on their pass, they were not allowed to
According to the White Paper on Local Government (1996), it is clear that national government is increasingly looking to local government as a logical point of coordination and necessary vehicle for the implementation of policies and programmes. Provincial governments are also decentralising certain functions to local government. At the same time, local government is constitutionally obliged to participate in national and provincial development programmes. It is also clear that the policies and programmes of other spheres have wide-reaching implications for local government, and can potentially have a positive impact on municipal capacity and a strong synergy with municipal programmes. National and provincial government can build local government capacity through the way they execute their own programmes, and enhance the effectiveness of both. Some of the ways in which this can happen are:
Civil society organization have influenced and engaged the state and the success or failure of these actions. According to many scholar concepts, it is possible to define variety approaches of the civil society term link to the relationship of democracy. In general, we see civil society sharing similar values and goals by formal organization. The beginning of democracy brought about a deep transformation in civil society, not only from the structural point of view, but also the fundamental strategic option, policy goals, and relationship with the state. In South Africa, a mass civil society movement made up of civic associations, church-based organizations, students movement and trade unions until the election in 1994. South Africa was under a transition to democracy during 1980s and 1990s and adopted the development of states’ approach to macroeconomic policy with variety of achievement and failure result. In the 1990s, civil society was catapulted in cent...
Within a short time span SAP-PK successfully managed to uplift an effective harvest of individuals and organizations across Pakistan. The initiated program Resource Development Program (RDP) gathered quite popularity and recognition In Pakistan as well as South Asia. The aspiration of the program was to develop capacities of community based organizations in community need and assessment, project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, resource mobilization, financial management, gender and much more, accommodating the needs and requirements of development workers with clarity about terms such as development, in the field relevancy of their skills and experience.
Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be considered inferior because of your race? The people of South Africa had to endure racial inferiority during the era of apartheid. The apartheid laws the government of South Africa made led to an unequal lifestyle for the blacks and produced opposition.
Agenda 21 concentrates on the urgent problems of today and also aspires to prepare the world for the challenges of the next century. It reflects a global agreement and political commitment at the highest level on development and environment teamwork. Its successful completion is first and foremost the responsibility of Governments. National strategies, plans, policies and processes are essential in accomplishing this. International cooperation should support and supplement such national efforts. In this context, the United Nations system has a key role to play. Other international, regional and sub regional organizations are also called upon to contribute to this effort. The broadest public participation and the active involvement of the non-governmental organizations and other groups should also be encouraged.
Empowerment. Public participation is seen as a forum for skills transfer thus enabling the beneficiaries to participate meaningfully in the development process (Hofisi,
The strength of a nation is not established by the force of its military, economic standing, or government, but rather how its citizens are regarded. In order to attain strength, a nation must respect the principle of solidarity; the power of one voice. For without a defined sense of unity, a society is likely to crumble. Unfortunately, as seen throughout history, civilization has often made it their mission to seek out the differences in one another instead of accepting them. This fear of the unknown has led to humankind’s most despicable behavior; the separation of individuals due to their physical attributes. “Racism is mans gravest threat to man...the maximum of hatred for a minimum reason -Abraham Heschel .” Not only has racism allowed unproven ideologies to spread, but it has also lead to the disintegration of civilizations. Sadly, such tragic events have been a prevalent part in the history of Africa. Perhaps, one of the most blatant forms of racism occurred in South Africa, during the period of Apartheid. From 1948 to 1994 non-white Africans were subjected to horrific treatment, enforced by the South African National Party. The repulsive forms of racial segregation in South Africa, resulting from race and color, not only oppressed the colored majority group, but also denied them of any rights or human dignity.
These key programmes are: meeting basic needs, developing our human resources, democratising the state and society, building the economy. There have been many successes with regards to implementing the Reconstruction and Development program. Three years into the program, there were many changes in the lives of the South Africans in rural areas. Free healthcare has been provided for women and children around the country. A nutrition project had reached over 12,000 schools in the country. With regards to health care, 550 clinics had been built and about 2500 were being reconstructed and improved. 1.3 million Electrical connections were made and 1 million water connections were made. In the year 2010; 2,376,675 households around South Africa were provided with houses with running water, sanitation and electricity. It is through providing these houses that job opportunities have been provided for the people. The Reconstruction and Development program aims at working together with the people to achieve the goals that have been set out. This has been achieved because the in the rural areas are the ones who are working on the project. They have a better source of income and at the same time they are working at meeting their basic needs which are housing, electricity and
This conference triggered the creation of a new resolution titled, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. This resolution incorporated “far-reaching” goals concerning poverty, cooperation, and protection issues, intending for these goals to be resolved by 2030. As asserted in A/RES/70/1, the United Nations seeks “to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom” by primarily creating partnership between countries. Following this, Agenda 21, a finalized plan of action, was created by a conference run by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and adopted by 178 governments. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in the following conference to assure that the goals addressed in Agenda 21 were properly executed. This agenda was a commitment to maintain diverse aspects of sustainability such as combating climate change, improving sanitation, and helping human settlements. A/RES/70/210 recalls that the United Nations “acknowledges the importance of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and
Oelofse. C. 2001. Sustainable Development: Theoretical and conceptual issues, LA 21 Training Programme. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Natal, Durban