Policy monitoring and evaluation for the extended public works programme within the Local Government environment

Abstract

Provision of basic services has been the national government's imperative since inception of the democratic South Africa in 1994. As such, Chapter 2 on the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 empowers the state to take reasonable measures within its available resources to realise provision of the enlisted basic services. Measurability of the extent at which the said services are provided, adequacy of the services, proper identification of the deserving ( designated) beneficiaries, clear definition of social problems and appropriateness of government's interventions, still remain indistinct. Given the above scenario, the current study was set in the North West Province of the Republic of South Africa and premised on the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, provided theoretical conceptions and an alternative model for monitoring and evaluation of the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP). Key constructs in the study were developed to help augment the policy cycle specific to the South African municipalities as regards: - Identification of an issue as a public concern; - Initiation of a policy by national, provincial and local spheres of government; - Collection of relevant information on environmental factors; - Explanation of the context and problem that the programme is to solve; - Consideration of alternative action for solving the problem or utilising opportunity; (policy adaptation or policy succession or policy termination) - Initiation of policy; - Defining elements of a logic model; - Authenticating the Model; - Designing of a programme to implement policy; - Implementation and - Evaluation. In the final analysis, the study demonstrated interrelations amongst and proper positioning of the above intrinsic constructs pertinent to policy development, implementation and evaluation within the South African municipal environment.