Integrated Development Plans and its sectoral plans in the optimisation of participatory and integrated spatial planning as transformation tool : a case study of Tlokwe Local Municipality

Abstract

South African cities' fragmented spatial system can be traced back to apartheid 21 years ago. It was after democracy in 1994, that the central government which came into power instigated policies, guidelines and legislations with the major aim to rectify the disorientation of city systems. The legal frameworks focussed on achieving transformation through integration and participatory planning consequently producing quality service delivery. It is against this background that the IDP was formulated. The IDP is a comprehensive strategic planning instrument which is used to effectuate service delivery. However, ever since the adoption of the IDP in local municipalities, the plan making process has been tendered to consultancy firms due to insufficient capacity. This has posed challenges as there has been creation of habitual documents which lack innovation. This questions the authenticity of the planning system as well as whether the missing links which aid total service delivery is worsening due to the plan making itself. In addition, the study observes that in as much as emphasis on quality service delivery has been placed in local municipalities, public protests have been increasing over the years. This raises questions with regard to the major role of public participation which is now modelled in the spirit of contestation and protestation. The major question is whether this strand of public participation is shaping cities for better or the worse? This particular research placed attention on Tlokwe Local Municipality (TLM) as the study area in order to review performance in achieving goals for integration in aiding spatial transformations using the scorecard method. The research came up with a scorecard which used ranking units to assess the quality of service provision and achievement of IDP goals. From the scorecard, the study concludes that TLM is generally performing better compared to municipalities such as Matlosana Local Municipality (MLM) though there has been a decline in performance to meet some other IDP goals and objectives. Furthermore, through interviews and questionnaires, the study exposed that with regard to structures that have been put in place for participation; the system is not effective enough in meeting the goals and objectives which address the needs of the people. Additionally, the research revealed that the institutional interface which exists amongst the three tiers of the government have been failing to a larger extent to ensure integration among sector plans and across the government entities. This has stifled development and has become time consuming for different role players in development. Therefore the research recommends innovative measures in the plan making and implementation of the IDP if service delivery is to be effective and efficient. Moreover, the study suggests an overhaul of skills in municipalities so as to engage personnel with specialised skills for the special entities in development. Furthermore, the study proposes effective use of scorecards to assess progress in achieving set target as per level of government.