Local Government Development Research Articles

‘Bringing government to the people’: women, local governance and community participation in South Africa

This paper considers the ongoing political transformations in South Africa in the context of debates about good governance and participatory democracy. It first appraises the current transformations of local government in South Africa, focusing specifically on relationships between gender equality and citizenship on the one hand, and local government policy, legislation, and community participation on the other, and then explores meanings of participation and how they inform approaches towards local socio-economic development. The findings of primary research conducted with civil society organisations and black women in communities in the Cape Town metropolitan area are explored through three interrelated themes. First, the model of structured participation that is central to South Africa’s democratic transformation is assessed from the perspective of black women. Second, cultures of alienation, both within local governance structures and amongst black women and the extent to which recent restructuring is combating or contributing to these are explored. Third, how participation policies are dealing with conflict within and between target groups are analysed, whether stakeholder group politics obliterate important differences in interests and whether alternative structures might be more effective in terms of women’s participation and empowerment. Finally, the findings are interpreted in relation to theoretical concepts of good governance and participatory democracy, and the potential and problems of realising South Africa’s transformation process toward developmental local government are assessed.

Putting ‘developmental local government’ into practice: The experience of South Africa’s towns and cities

One of the key features of the late twentieth and the early twenty-first centuries is the apparent re-definition of the role and place of the 'city' within national and global economies. Globalization has been accompanied by changing perceptions of the role of the locality within an increasingly integrated global system, which reflects the dominance of economic orthodoxy, independent action and the search for innovative ways to participate within a redefined global economic context. These trends have gone hand in hand with a notable policy shift around the world, which is enhancing the status, role and functions of local authorities, and simultaneously devolving to them many of central governments' social and economic responsibilities (Hambleton et al., 2002; UNCHS, 2001). Within this context, "cities are becoming central to economic development. They are increasingly taking on the role of focal points of economic growth" (Jouve and Lefevere, 2002, p. 186). In order to mediate their newfound role and status, cities are being challenged to significantly enhance the range of strategic socio-economic interventions which they undertake, in an effort to secure investment, encourage growth and deal with issues of social exclusion and poverty. The net result is the identification of an impressively diverse portfolio of city development strategies and interventions (Clarke and Gaile, 1998; Hambleton et al., 2002). Within this context of devolution, global integration and increasing responsibility in terms of issues of socio-economic transformation, it is timely to examine South African local authorities as they respond to the challenges of their radically altered powers and responsibilities, and as they attempt to deal with a daunting range of socio-economic challenges which are a legacy of the apartheid era before 1994. The greatly enhanced status of local authorities in South Africa, which are now constitutionally mandated to promote social and economic development (RSA, 1996a), makes them key agents for transforming South Africa's society and economy in the post-apartheid era. Local government has been transformed significantly

Decentralising Development in South Africa

With the widespread failure of ‘topdown’ development interventions, there is a move in both developed and developing countries towards the decentralisation of developmental responsibilities to local government and community-based agencies. While this trend may be admirable, in terms of gaining grassroots support for development interventions which could impact on individual and community livelihoods, in practice the decentralisation process in economically poor countries often seems to have serious attendant difficulties. In South Africa, which only emerged from the apartheid era in 1994, there are very significant social, economic and spatial inequalities which need to be urgently addressed. The African National Congress (ANC) government, keen to incorporate and empower people at the grassroots level, has implemented a strategy of ‘developmental local government’, in which local municipalities now carry the main responsibility for implementing development strategies leading to job creation and poverty alleviation. However, the results of a recent nationwide survey, reported here, indicate that many local authorities are having difficulty in meeting their newly devolved developmental responsibilities.

Uniting a Divided City; Governance and Social Exclusion in Johannesburg

Part 1: Ways of Understanding Divided Cities - Introduction to a Divided City * Reverberations from a Divided City * Part 2: The Changing Spatial Structure of the City - Beyond Racial Fordism: Changing Patterns of Social Inequality * Post-Fordist Polarization: The Changing Spatial Order of the City * Part 3: Institutional Responses to Urban Change - Decentralization by Stealth: Democratization or Disempowerment through Developmental Local Government? * the Politics of Fiscal Austerity in Creating Equitable City Government * Part 4: Living in a Divided City - the Inner-city Challenge: Locating Partners for Urban Regeneration * Participatory Planning and Informal Settlement Upgrading in Diepsloot * Housing and Service Consumption in Soweto * the People Behind the Walls: Insecurity, Identity and gated Communities * Conclusion: Lessons from a Uniting City * Notes * References * Index

Capital city politics in Latin America: democratization and empowerment

Local Executive Power in Latin American Capital Cities Since 1945 - D.J Myers Bogota - A. Gilbert and J. Davila. Buenos Aires: The Evolution of Local Government - M.P. Jones, M. De Luca, and M. Ines Tula. Caracas: Empowered Mayors and Geopolitical Feudalism - S. Ellner and D.J. Myers. Guatemala City: Mayors and the Struggle for Political Autonomy - D. Jickling and A. Garcia-Iragorri. Havana: The Dynamics of Local Executive Power - J.L. Scarpaci. Lima: Centralized Authority vs. the Struggle for Autonomy - H.A. Dietz and M. Tanaka. Mexico City: The Local-National Dynamics of Democratization - D.E. Davis. Santiago: Municipal Decentralization in a Centralized Political System - P. Siavelis, E. Valenzuela Van Treek, and G. Martelli. Sao Paulo: The Tension Between Clientelism and Participatory Democracy - L.S. Graham and P. Jacobi. Conclusion - H.A. Dietz and D.J. Myers.

Devolving Development: Integrated Development Planning and Developmental Local Government in Post-apartheid South Africa

The post-apartheid government in South Africa faces significant challenges in coming to terms with the country's apartheid legacy. In addition, newly adopted principles of democratic participation and civic responsibility have made local government a key focal point for development initiatives. This article examines how attempts to correct past injustices, and to strengthen local government planning and administration, are to be undertaken through the twin concepts of 'development local government' and 'integrated development planning'. Key policy, legal and applied processes associated with these endeavours are detailed, before shifting attention to three case studies of initiatives being taken. The assessment reveals that although innovative, locally-based planning is highly appropriate, there are many practical issues which give cause for concern.

Initiating 'Developmental Local Government' in South Africa: Evolving Local Economic Development Policy

Local economic development policy and practice has evolved significantly in the post-apartheid era in South Africa. This article reviews recent local economic development policy and legal developments, particularly with respect to the enhanced development requirements and expectations being placed on local governments in that country. The factors encouraging this focus on 'development local government' are analysed, key policies and laws outlined, associated funding and planning strategies such as that of Integrated Development Planning are discussed and the overall process is critiqued. Quite clearly, significant and timely changes have been embarked on, but greater levels of support will clearly be needed by the smaller local authorities before widespread application of the new laws and policies can be anticipated.

Initiating 'Developmental Local Government' in South Africa: Evolving Local Economic Development Policy

Local economic development policy and practice has evolved significantly in the post-apartheid era in South Africa. This article reviews recent local economic development policy and legal developments, particularly with respect to the enhanced development requirements and expectations being placed on local governments in that country. The factors encouraging this focus on 'development local government' are analysed, key policies and laws outlined, associated funding and planning strategies such as that of Integrated Development Planning are discussed and the overall process is critiqued. Quite clearly, significant and timely changes have been embarked on, but greater levels of support will clearly be needed by the smaller local authorities before widespread application of the new laws and policies can be anticipated.

Initiating 'Developmental Local Government' in South Africa: Evolving Local Economic Development Policy

Initiating 'Developmental Local Government' in South Africa: Evolving Local Economic Development Policy

“Developmental Local Government” and the Language Issue in South Africa

The aim of this paper is to establish whether it is possible for local government to act effectively as a development catalyst if citizen participation is not secured through developing functional ...

The legal duty of local government to facilitate development

Local government in South Africa is not only facing challenges normally associated with a process of development or transformation, but needs to adjust its focus according to the new development paradigm unfolding in South Africa. Developmental local government has to accomplish this task according to the mandate issued in the Constitution and within a specific legal-institutional and value framework The legal-institutional framework is based on a set of development law principles contained in new generation legislation. The value framework consists of community values as well as constitutional values reflecting individual and community values, norms and principles. This framework imposes a legal and moral duty as well as corresponding obligations on municipalities to plan and implement future socio-economic development of the areas for which they are responsible according to a new set of development principles and values. These principles make it incumbent upon municipalities to manage development through a people-centred and community-driven process. This article briefly deals with the nature and content of the duties and responsibilities of municipalities emanating from a new development paradigm when facilitating the development process within their areas of jurisdiction.

Integrated development planning or strategic paralysis? Municipal development during the local government transition and beyond

The launch of the Local Government White Paper in March 1998 provides a blueprint for the final form of local government in South Africa after its progression from apartheid structures, through the democratisation of councils, t.o the creation of developmental local government. According to the White Paper local government will centre on municipalities which will coordinate all development activities at national, provincial and local level, from private and public sectors. Municipalities will need to gain control over their devel opment resources, including land use. This article scrutinises the municipal planning legislation that has emerged since the end of apartheid in the form of the Development Facilitation Act (DFA) and the Local Government Transition Act, and argues that the Land Development Objectives (LDOs) of the DFA may not be an appropriate way to achieve developmental local government. The article argues that development tribunals could usurp the executive authority of municipalities to determine land use and therefore risk being both unconstitutional and counterproductive. It recommends that existing plan ning legislation is rationalised into an integrated framework that gives local government structures both legislative and executive authority over land‐use planning.

Shifting Nature of Decentralisation: A Review of the Evolution of Local Government in Trinidad and Tobago

Shifting Nature of Decentralisation: A Review of the Evolution of Local Government in Trinidad and Tobago

Local fiscal impacts of large-scale projects: Use of impact models as planning and policy analysis tools

Rapid economic and population fluctuations, which often accompany large-scale industrial and resource development projects located in rural areas, may lead to serious fiscal problems for local jurisdictions. These problems typically arise from the unequal distribution of project-related costs and revenues, both over time and among jurisdictions. Growing awareness of these problems has stimulated a variety of responses at both state and local levels. Several states have enacted special taxes on large energy and mineral development projects, with part of the proceeds being distributed to affected local governments. Local officials, meanwhile, have become increasingly active in negotiating a variety of compensation agreements with the development entities. Such impact agreements have included grants, loans, loan guarantees, or a combination of these measures. With the increasing interest in fiscal impacts and their mitigation, a number of fiscal impact simulation models have been developed. This paper describes the use of one such model as a tool for the development of state taxation policies, as a guide for distribution of impact assistance funds, as a source of information for local governments in development and public service planning, and for the siting of large-scale projects. In addition, generalizations about the policy use of such models are presented and discussed in relation to the likely needs of policymakers.

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Gauteng urban municipalities: A bridge too far?

Local government in South Africa, or ‘developmental local government’ as the lowest tier of government is often called (RSA 1998), carries the mandate of executing national development priorities of the country, as empowered by the constitution (RSA 1996), and by local government policy and legislation such as the White Paper on Local Government (RSA 1998) and the Municipal Systems Act (RSA 2000), that spell out the roles and responsibilities of local government. In terms of this mandate, local government is categorized into metropolitan, district and local municipalities, and has the responsibility of providing basic services such as water and sanitation, housing, and roads within those municipal jurisdictions, based on local integrated development plans (IDPs).

Reformismo borbónico y gobierno municipal (las regidurías compostelanas, siglo XVIII)

En el siglo XVIII el proceso de patrimonialización de los cargos municipales está plenamente consolidado, siendo así que la mayoría de las ciudades aparecen regidas por cabildos oligárquicos y nepotistas. La nueva dinastía necesita contar con ellos, lo cual no impidió su intervención (directa o indirecta) en este ámbito ni tampoco el acceso e incorporación al grupo de nuevos elementos. En este trabajo se abordan los retoques de composición y capítulos de gobierno tocantes al regimiento compostelano así como la dinámica de sus oficios durante la etapa borbónica. A partir del estudio de la legislación “específica” promulgada para su control, de las trasmisiones operadas en cada cargo, los pleitos a que dieron lugar y las controversias surgidas entre los grupos dirigentes locales, se analizan algunas de las claves de la evolución de su gobierno en esta etapa crucial de los municipios modernos.

Developmental Local Government as a Model for Grassroots Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria

In the past five decades of political independence in Nigeria, local government administration has moved from the colonial styled Local administration characterized by peculiar systems to the federating units to the present unified and standardized system that constitutionally recognizes local government as the third tier of government. As the third tier of government, local governments are entitled to a statutory allocation of national revenue and the carrying out of specific functions in response to local needs. The objective of the problem statement of this article is to show that the present system whereby, the Constitution gives the State governments the power to handle issues of organization and responsibility in the local governments places a strong limitation on local autonomy and governance at the local level. The abuse of these provisions in the Constitution by the State governments coupled with other issues such as low level of commitment to the people and lack of monitoring and evaluation are negatively affecting grassroots socio-economic development in the Country. Local economic growth and development is an imperative for overall socio-economic development of the Country (the local population presently faces high incidence of poverty, unemployment, lack of social infrastructure and low economic activities). It is in this context that the article prescribes a developmental local government model which has local economic development (LED) as ‘the mandate’ to address the concerns of poverty, unemployment and inadequate resources in the rural areas. The LED approach enables local governments to stimulate economic activities and improve the socioeconomic conditions of people in the localities by working in partnership with private and other non-governmental sectors.

The Evolution of Local Government in Lebanon

Public Administration and DevelopmentVolume 2, Issue 3 p. 137-139 Article The Evolution of Local Government in Lebanon Keith M. Henderson, Keith M. HendersonSearch for more papers by this authorEmile S. Shihadeh, Emile S. ShihadehSearch for more papers by this author Keith M. Henderson, Keith M. HendersonSearch for more papers by this authorEmile S. Shihadeh, Emile S. ShihadehSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 July 1963 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1963.tb00608.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume2, Issue3July 1963Pages 137-139 RelatedInformation

The Evolution of Local Government in British African Colonies

The Evolution of Local Government in British African Colonies Margaret Wrong Margaret Wrong Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Affairs, Volume 22, Issue 3, July 1946, Pages 418–421, https://doi.org/10.2307/3017046 Published: 01 July 1946