Caught in the vortex: can local government community development workers succeed in South Africa?

Abstract

Abstract In 2003, following a Parliamentary announcement by President ThaboMbeki, a new cadre of public servants – community developmentworkers (CDWs) – was introduced in South Africa to serve asagents of change within local government municipalities charged withthe responsibility for social and economic development. This paperexamines the context of this initiative, the role of CDW, the progressof the Community Development Workers Programme (CDWP), andthe challenges faced by this emerging occupational group. It beginswith a discussion of community development theory and highlightsthe difficulties for CDWs as state employees whose goal is to fostersupport for and participation in government-initiated programmes. Itargues that community development practice can be a far cry from itssometimes hortatory theory. Given the institutional confusion withinwhich they operate and the harsh practice realities in South Africa,success seems most unlikely. Introduction Communitydevelopmentisanelusiveconceptwhichiswidelyusedbyaca-demics, policy-makers and practitioners (Davidsetal., 2005). Eachdefinesitintheirownidiosyncraticwayassuitstheirpurposes.Thus,forDeBeerandSwanepoel (1998, p. 1), community development exists ‘in an Alice in Won-derlandworldwherewordsstillmeanwhatyouwantthemtomean’.Forthemost part, however, community development is used to describe the collec-tiveactionsoflocalgrassrootspeopletoimprovetheirlives.Nevertheless,asCraig (2007, p. 335) notes, governments have continually failed ‘properly to&