Exploring the role of the community in decision making processes in selected development initiatives in Dihlabeng Local Municipality, South Africa

Abstract

Community participation is regarded as the cornerstone of local government democratic decision-making processes. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa charges elected and appointed local government authorities with the responsibility of facilitating decentralised decision-making processes regarding the identification and prioritisation of development needs of the communities in line with the democratic governance system. In enforcing this constitutional role, local government legislation and policies require these authorities to consider inputs from communities such that they become meaningful role players in the decisions that affect their local municipality. The purpose of this study was to explore ways in which the community is involved in decision-making processes in the Dihlabeng Local Economic Hub and Sivukile Youth Agricultural Co-operative. The study employed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to gather data, which were supplemented by document review. There were 23 participants in the study who were purposively selected. These participants included the municipal representatives, ward committee members and community members in two Dihlabeng Local Municipality wards. Data gathered from these participants and document analysis were thematically analysed. Two themes that emerged were community involvement in decision-making processes and the absence of a community participation strategy in the Dihlabeng Local Municipality. The findings of the study revealed the absence of pertinent voices such as those of communities. The development-related decisions taken by the Dihlabeng Local Municipality authorities did not incorporate the community's inputs. While community members had access to various participatory mechanisms such as community meetings, written requests submission, print media and social media platforms through which they could make suggestions, they were not given the opportunity in the two selected development initiatives. It is for this reason that they felt that the municipal authority overlooked their inputs, thus becoming unresponsive to local realities. All these seem to emanate from the prioritisation of political party interests, absence of a system to incorporate community's inputs and unclear community participation processes. The platforms for community participation in decision-making, therefore, end up serving the purpose of endorsing pre-decided upon development initiatives. Community inputs in conceptualising, designing, planning and implementation ofdevelopment initiatives were ignored despite the legislative requirements that compel the local municipal council to make it possible for community members to be active participants in local development matters rather than uncritical acceptance of decisions taken elsewhere. This demonstrates that decision-making processes are not truly inclusive and responsive to the needs of the community. Lack of a set of well-defined community participation guidelines revealed a vacuum in both communication and participation. This vacuum implied a mismatch between the provision of the Constitution and the reality of shared decision-making at local government level. Since the Dihlabeng Local Municipality does not have documented community participation guidelines, this study recommends that an inclusive public participation guideline be developed and used to ensure meaningful, purposeful and effective decision-making processes in local development initiatives. The guidelines will be for elected and appointed officials, council and community representatives and they should be made accessible to all stakeholders. The community members will thus be empowered to participate fully and be involved collectively in decision-making processes in development activities as provided for in local governance policies. A proposed six-step guideline will ensure that these co-decision makers discuss, negotiate and deliberate on development activities in the local municipality in accordance with the provision of the legislation.