Abstract
Community participation currently forms an important element of the South African government’s policy on integrated development planning in local government. Community participation and stakeholder negotiation involve a process of comprehensive engagement, as divergent opinions, needs and expectations normally exist. It is therefore important to correctly identify legitimate stakeholders, to know the different types of partnerships that form stakeholder units within municipalities, and where final decision-making responsibility and accountability are located in local government affairs. This paper reflects on the need for a culture of community participation and most importantly, stakeholder negotiation to be established and institutionalized to the extent that it will be viewed not as an event but rather a continuous process in local government. This approach defines a new era for public management in South African local government.
Highlights
South Africa does not have a culture of actively engaging communities in local government development affairs
Each municipality should find ways to establish a practical working relationship with all stakeholders. Such practical working relationships should adhere to the following principles: (a) it should move beyond mere “demands” associated with protest politics and which incorporates a more involved and participatory role; (b) it should take into account the particularities of local politics in South Africa − especially in the rural areas; and (c) it should recognize that communities often reflect division and competing interests and not often harmony and common purpose (Coetzee, Graaf, Hendricks & Wood 2001: 478)
In the preceding discussion it became apparent that South African local governments should re-assess their roles in their areas of municipal jurisdiction
Summary
South Africa does not have a culture of actively engaging communities in local government development affairs. On the way to achieving true community participation in the management of local government affairs, processes of stakeholder negotiation, rather than mere information and consultation, are involved as well. The previous Integrated Development Planning processes undertaken by South African municipalities did not adhere to the basic requirements to ensure effective community participation, as set in the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000) and the White Paper on Local Government (1998). Each municipality should find ways to establish a practical working relationship with all stakeholders Such practical working relationships should adhere to the following principles: (a) it should move beyond mere “demands” associated with protest politics and which incorporates a more involved and participatory role; (b) it should take into account the particularities of local politics in South Africa − especially in the rural areas; and (c) it should recognize that communities often reflect division and competing interests and not often harmony and common purpose (Coetzee, Graaf, Hendricks & Wood (eds.) 2001: 478). Improved consultation and decision-making will be achieved if community organizations are capacitated to play their roles effectively with the assistance of business and local government
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