Fostering public participation in integrated development planning : the case of the City of Matlosana

Abstract

South Africa’s public participation practices bear much significance due to the country’s history of Apartheid whereby government participation opportunities favoured only certain demographic areas. Due to this past, public participation in the integrated development planning process is currently being regarded as an instrument to redress the injustices of the past, thereby allowing all interested parties to participate in governmental affairs. As a result, public participation found itself firmly imbedded in the supreme law and other statutory prescripts of countries. The problem acknowledged and considered by this study was insufficient public participation in the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) cycle of local government with the focus on the City of Matlosana Local Municipality. The study was inspired by the need for the City of Matlosana to aid effective and efficient public participation mechanisms within their IDP process by embracing innovative and emerging methods that would increase public participation. Hence, proposing a public participation model was imperative in adding to the current political discourse and growing literature on public participation within the IDP process, contributing to the advancement of knowledge within public administration, management and governance as study domains. It is expected that the proposed model will meaningfully enhance public participation in the IDP cycle of local government. The efficacious implementation of this model will not only be beneficial to the City of Matlosana but may assist as a benchmark for adoption and execution by other municipalities facing similar public participation challenges. A sound conceptual and theoretical framework to serve as meta-underpinning of the study was derived by analysing the developmental fundamentals of democracy, with particular reference to the normative principles and ideals like participation, respect for the law, freedom and equality. The principles of the social exchange theory as an ethical basis of democratic ideology outlined a continuous theme in the study. The role of local government in democracy was further analysed. Theories surrounding reasons for the transition to a democratic order were part of this analysis. The view was taken that the successful implementation of the “social contract” between government and voters is largely dependent on the confidence that the electorate has in government

structures and political leaders in the implementation of policy and service-delivery processes. The prevailing paradigmatic thought of the developmental role of government and how it changed over the ages were analysed. It was established how the developmental planning role of government has developed through time leading to existing planning frameworks. The significance of public participation and civil society engagement in developmental planning in selected developed and developing countries was ascertained and best practices extracted. The evolution of IDPs was explored with particular reference to South African local governance realities and dynamics. Country-specific statutory and regulatory prescripts pertaining to the IDP were extracted to act as data set against which current praxis could be gauged. The nexus between public participation and the IDP cycle was expounded by demonstrating how participation deficits or gaps may impact negatively on the success of the entire IDP process. The IDP cycle that supports the implementation of IDPs was furthermore analysed and the interrelationship between public participation and the IDP was highlighted by an in-depth investigation into the typical structures and mechanisms utilised for public participation during the IDP cycle. Subsequently, the suitability and perceived effectiveness of these structures and mechanisms were empirically tested and verified. Ways to address perceived participation challenges and international best practice were then imbedded in a proposed public participation model. The model was pre-tested and validated by sampled participants in a case study research design. The successful implementation of the model is supported by means of focused recommendations.