Municipalities In South Africa Research Articles

Modernisation of Rural Communities: Solid Waste Management Implication

Solid waste management is a global challenge, particularly in economically developing countries due to their growing population, urbanisation, and increasing waste generation. Municipalities in South Africa are responsible for general waste management in both residential areas and industrial sites. However, waste management is not implemented in all rural areas of South Africa, even against the background of socioeconomic improvement and increased consumption patterns in these communities. This study aims to examine the relationship between rural socioeconomic conditions and solid waste generation and management. The target population of this study is five rural communities of the Vulindlela area, which is situated west of Msunduzi Municipality in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 50 households were randomly selected as sample sites as the result of a detailed field survey in 2022 and 50 respondents participated in the study for interview through cluster sampling technique. The study uses a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary data about the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents were gathered through close-ended questions. Open-ended questions in the semi-structured interviews were utilised to gather data on Vulindlela residents’ perceptions of waste pollution effects and strategies implemented in their area. Microsoft Excel version 2305 was used to perform basic descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) to examine the socio-economic characteristics of respondents. While a thematic content analysis was undertaken to analyse the open-ended question data which was on respondents’ perceptions of waste pollution in their area. The study findings suggest that Vulindlela is a socioeconomically diverse rural community, with households earning between 500 and 31,000 Rand per month. In addition, grocery expenditures range from 800 to 3100 Rand per month. Communities characterised by lower income generation dispose of their waste inside their households, apart from certain waste such as nappies that are disposed of in freshwater ecosystems and open spaces, while those who earn more money have diverse waste types and dispose of their waste at illegal dump sites.

Accountability, inclusivity, effectiveness, and leaving no one behind

This study aims to shed light on the continued difficulties municipalities in South Africa are having in achieving SDG 6 and also explore the impacts of effective governance principles on ensuring sustainable development. To explore this, the study adopted a qualitative research methodology in a form of a conceptual research design to gather secondary data. The secondary data covering SDG 6 challenges and effective governance principles were reviewed and synthesized. Different databases were used to review data from July through October 2022, such as Google Scholar, Google, Sabinet, Scopus, and other online platforms. Different keywords were used to guide and search the existing relevant literature. Secondary data was analyzed using a critical discourse analysis approach. Because of South Africa's lax governance standards, the theoretical findings of this study demonstrate that there are growing concerns about achieving SDG 6 in the near future. However, it can be agreed that progress toward effective governance has been encouraged and promoted, but the challenges remain. Therefore, the study recommends effective and inclusive governance because, without it, South Africa will not achieve its socio-economic goals, like SDG 6. South Africa should put in place structures that support constitutionalism, accountability, democracy, and good governance if it is to meet its development objectives. It is important to overcome lax governance, which is characterized by mismanagement, fraud, bribery, corruption, and a lack of accountability, transparency, and public participation. Again, South Africa should have an efficient government that works to fulfil the localized SDGs and responds to community desires and aspirations enshrined in the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000)

Impacts of municipal re-demarcations on service delivery in South Africa

This paper examines the implications of municipal re-demarcations on service delivery through a case study of the Collins Chabane and JB Marks local municipalities in South Africa. The former is the result of a merger of two rural areas that were carved out of adjoining municipalities. The latter was established following the amalgamation of the erstwhile municipalities of Tlokwe and Ventersdorp, including the major centre of Potchefstroom. Thus, the two case studies are quite distinct in terms of racial demographics and history. Between 1995 and 2016, South Africa witnessed a significant reduction in the number of its municipalities, from over 800 racially based local authorities to 257 democratically elected municipalities. This trend reflects a belief that smaller municipalities are inefficient and not financially viable. However this study’s empirical findings, which were mainly obtained through a survey, suggest that mergers do not necessarily lead to improved local government capacity or efficient service delivery. The paper recommends further consideration of alternative models that can improve service delivery efficiency through voluntary cooperation or other collaborative arrangements.

Assessing the impact of policies in sustaining rural small, medium and micro enterprises during COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has persistently threatened the survival of rural livelihoods everywhere in South Africa. This may have adverse effects on the implementation of policies and strategies that support rural small medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). Rural-based local institutions and their policies play major roles in sustaining rural SMMEs and livelihoods during disasters and yet there is little research to provide future directions.Aim: This article aims to contribute to an understanding of the impact of the implementation of present and past SMME policies in sustaining rural livelihoods during disasters in South African rural municipalities.Setting: This research focussed on institutions and their policies in the Jozini Local Municipality and Matatiele Local Municipality. These rural-based local municipalities in South Africa were chosen as relevant case studies for this study because of their experiences with frequent fire and drought crises or disasters.Methods: The study employed a qualitative research methodology. In line with the interpretative paradigm, a social network analysis, together with one-on-one interviews, were chosen as research instruments for the collection of data from two rural municipalities. NVivo 12 was used for data analysis.Results: The findings of the study revealed that, while policy and legal frameworks are in place to support SMMEs, in reality, very little support (during disasters) trickles through to rural-based SMMEs.Conclusion: The conclusions drawn from this study revealed that, in the absence of provincial and nationally based institutions to ensure the implementation of their policies, rural SMMEs established alternative processes to sustain their SMMEs during disasters.

Consumer Perceptions and Attitudes towards Chevon and Chevon-Derived Products: A Case Study of Amathole and Buffalo City Municipalities in South Africa

ABSTRACT Structured, self-administered questionnaires were used to analyze consumer perceptions and attitudes about chevon and chevon-derived products among 243 consumers randomly selected in Amathole and Buffalo City Municipalities in South Africa. Chevon was regarded as the most favored by 10.7% of the participants, and the least desired by 89.30%. Nationality had a highly significant (P <0.01) impact on chevon preference. Despite 15.64% of South Africans willing to consume chevon on a regular basis, its consumption was limited to religious occasions (61.73%). Palatability (47.74%), tenderness (20.16%) and availability (9.05%) of chevon were used to determine overall acceptability (23.05%). When compared to other meats, South African consumers disliked chevon. Furthermore, the majority of South African consumers are unaware of chevon’s nutritional benefits. A deliberate effort to promote chevon as a healthy product and raise awareness of it could increase demand.

Municipal Services and Financial Performance of Three Metropolitan Municipalities in South Africa

The study aimed to evaluate the level of public satisfaction in the provision of municipal services. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between municipal services and financial performances in the three metropolitan municipalities in the Gauteng province of South Africa using secondary and primary data from a survey conducted in 2019. The study is based on the theory of social contract. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative techniques to examine the level of public satisfaction on municipal services delivered to the urban residents in the study areas. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and the annual financial statements from the three metropolitan municipalities in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The results from financial ratio indicators confirmed that the metropolitan municipalities were in a good financial position. However, the findings from financial ratio analysis should be used with utmost caution due to the major limitations and drawbacks associated with such financial measures. The content analysis in the study revealed that the demand for basic municipal services would remain high, costly, with severe backlogs, insufficient, and often with unresponsive management practices in the study areas. Moreover, the lack of entrepreneurial, innovative, and problem-solving skills and expertise among municipal managers compromised the provision of basic municipal services, and the residents remained unsatisfied in the three metropolitan municipalities of Gauteng Province. Other factors that contributed to the poor performances are also discussed.

Healthcare Workers' Perception of Measures to Reduce the Risk of New Tuberculosis Infections: A Qualitative Study Report.

Tuberculosis, which is an infectious airborne disease remained the main leading cause of death in South Africa for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. In 2020 alone, the country had an estimated 328,000 people who suffered from TB, with 61,000 dying from it. Collins Chabane Municipality had 129 and 192 new TB cases recorded in 2017 and 2018, respectively, which is far from reaching the END TB STRATEGY targets. WHO scientific evidence demonstrates that TB control measures are effective in reducing the spread and development of new cases. Though scientific evidence revealed negative attitudes towards the recommended TB control measures in public hospitals of the Vhembe district, a deeper understanding of these attitudes is needed to remedy the situation. This study aimed to describe healthcare workers' perceptions of TB control measures at Collins Chabane Municipality in South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory case study design was adopted. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select both the healthcare facilities and the participants. Only 24 healthcare workers trained on tuberculosis management were voluntarily recruited. However, data were saturated at the twelfth (12) participant purposively selected from six healthcare facilities of Collins Chabane Municipality. Data collected through unstructured in-depth individual interviews were analyzed thematically. The proposal for this study was ethically cleared by the University of Venda Ethics Committee (SHS/20/PDC/35/1111). Results indicate that TB administrative, environmental and respiratory control measures are well understood by health workers even though there are challenges with implementation concerning some, such as closing windows during winter, UVGI lights that are non-functional and taking too long to be fixed, no specimen collection during weekends and holidays thereby delaying TB diagnosis and lack of skills concerning how to use respirators and cough etiquette. The Vhembe district TB control programme should intensify infection control training and continue monitoring giving the needed support.

Should Market Value Be Retained as the Only Tax Base for Municipal Property Rates in South Africa?

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (MPRA), metropolitan and local municipalities in South Africa may levy property rates on property. The MPRA provides for only one tax base, namely "market value". Given the paucity of skills and capacity to prepare credible valuation rolls and given the costs of doing so, especially B3 and B4 local municipalities situated in rural areas are struggling to comply with the valuation-related provisions of the MPRA. A brief review of property tax base options utilised globally indicates that some countries allow for different tax bases (or even different taxes) on the basis of the location and/or use of property and some jurisdictions apply simplified methodologies (such as value banding, points-based assessment or even self-assessment) to assess properties for property tax purposes. In the light of there being viable alternatives to market value and of the challenges faced by many rural local municipalities, the South African government should revisit the policy decision to have only market value as the tax base across vastly different types of municipalities.

The impact of training and development on employee performance and service delivery at a local municipality in South Africa

There is a growing concern about the lack of skilled municipal employees who can deliver essential services to under-resourced local communities in South Africa. However, coaching and mentoring appear underutilized to train municipal employees to improve service delivery to local communities. The study aims to investigate whether coaching and mentoring could capacitate municipal employees whose performance appraisal reveals a lack of skills to provide essential services. A cross-sectional research design was adopted to conduct a survey. The target population comprised 265 municipal employees, and a stratified random sample of 115 employees completed a questionnaire. The employees held positions of general managers, general assistants, and administrators, with varied years of experience. Cronbach’s Alpha indicated an overall high 0.8 questionnaire reliability score. Using a quantitative method, responses from municipal employees were collected to examine their perceptions of the influence of training and development on employee performance and service delivery. Hypotheses were tested using the bivariant inferential statistical tests of correlation (r) and Chi-square (χ2). The results indicated that training and development were more likely to improve employee performance. Furthermore, the results showed that trained employees were more likely to improve service delivery. In particular, coaching and mentoring could be used to improve performance. Therefore, the study found that the municipality was not providing employees with relevant training and development to enable them to address poor service delivery. Finally, the study recommends that the municipality invests in training and development to enrich employees with new skills and knowledge to improve the quality of service delivery.

Climate services to support coastal municipalities in South Africa

Climate services to support coastal municipalities in South Africa GERICS assists with climate services as it analyses climate change information to support coastal municipalities in South Africa, where planning and development are key to avoiding climate change risks in coastal cities. As coastal cities in the Western Indian Ocean and climate services are topics of research interest for GERICS, they work closely with municipalities on issues relating to climate change adaptation, looking at storm or flooding damage, long term risk preparation and innovation in climate-resilient development.

Investigating the correlation of nitrates and phosphates to the effective removal of Fats, Oils, and Grease in Two Mangaung Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants

This study is about the effectiveness of wastewater treatment technologies in two treatment plants at Mangaung Municipality in South Africa. The removal of FOG, nitrogen and phosphorus is an important component of wastewater treatment. Therefore, the study aims at investigating the effectiveness of the two treatment technologies (biological trickling filter and activated sludge) in the wastewater treatment plants studied. Grab samples of the influent and effluent of the North East Wastewater Treatment Plant (NEWTP) and the Bloemspruit Wastewater Treatment Plant (BWTP) were collected per week over a period of five months. The laboratory analysis of FOG followed the description of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1664B. Hexane extraction and gravimetry-PBM method was used in the analysis. Nitrates were analysed using a SOP Chem 005 Spectroquant Nitrate test while phosphates were analysed using a Spectroquant Prove spectrophotometer in the laboratory. The results showed that the trickling filter from BWTP removed FOG by 61.36% while the activated sludge from NEWTP removed FOG by 52.81% which showed that the both of the two treatment technologies work the same and are ineffective in the removal of FOG. However, the nitrates and phosphates present in the effluent were found to be within the effluent discharge standards.

Relationship between the Informal Economy and Local Economic Improvement in the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in South Africa

Purpose: The LED in South Africa complies with the formalisation of economies, the legislative context and the economic development framework. It involves the progression of the informal economy through consideration of its characteristics and potentials together with the standard LED requirements that associate the notion of a green economy and the connections among the unregulated and the official economies. This study investigates the relationship between the informal economy and the LED in the Thembisile Hani local municipality in South Africa.&#x0D; Methodology: The scholarship uses face-to-face interviews to collect data from respondents in the Thembisile Hani municipality regarding their economic survival experiences.&#x0D; Findings: The study results show that several limitations such as infrastructure, capital, suitable skills, excessive regulations and security apprehensions compromise the informal economy growth. In addition, the study showed that employment opportunities are created in the informal sector for poverty reduction and economic improvement. Furthermore, inclusive economic development is required because the government have excluded the informal economy from their economic planning processes.&#x0D; Implications: Municipalities should ensure the enhancement of basic knowledge and a better environment for the informal economy players to create the bridge between the unofficial economy and a sustainable LED in the country.

Enhancing service delivery for metropolitan municipalities in South Africa via project management

Enhancing service delivery for metropolitan municipalities in South Africa via project management

The future is a zero-carbon building sector: Perspectives from Durban, South Africa

The built environment is a critical part of the climate change problem in cities, and urban buildings can act as a scaled response to mitigating anthropogenic climate change. Buildings last for well beyond a hundred years and thus have the potential to provide cities with a healthier and safer environment for urban dwellers well into the future. The role of the building sector toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is now better understood, and has resulted in various initiatives globally to move toward being a net-zero carbon sector. The objective of this study was to provide an assessment of the costs in achieving the emissions-reduction potential for each high-emitting sector in the eThekwini Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) through the determination of a marginal abatement cost curve (MACC). The MACC was developed for 2030, 2040, and 2050 across key sectors and aligned with the approach used by the eThekwini Municipality by employing the GHG Protocol’s BASIC level of reporting that excludes the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land-use (AFLOU) and Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) sectors. We found that the building sector offers the lowest cost to mitigate each tonne of GHGs when compared to other sectors in the eThekwini Municipality. Several interventions within the building sector further display positive payback periods throughout its life cycle. The MACC produced in this study is the first of its kind for any municipality in South Africa and will provide insights into the net cost of interventions that would mitigate a tonne of carbon emissions. Significance: The MACC produced in this study is the first of its kind for any municipality in South Africa. Developing a MACC adds to an important basket of factors that need to be considered when planning for future climates in cities and is of benefit in prioritising actions in addressing climate change. The MACC in this study demonstrates that energy efficiency interventions in the building sector offer substantial mitigation potential within the most feasible payback periods when compared to other sectors. The MACC may be replicated by other municipalities, to support the prioritisation of actions needed to address climate change.

Territorial Impact and Responses to COVID-19 in South Africa: Case Studies of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and KwaDukuza Local Municipality

Governments played an essential role in mitigating the social, political, health and economic impact and outcomes of COVID-19. Most literature limits the role of the state at the national level by focusing on the pandemic’s impact on economic growth, unemployment, poverty and state responses. This approach neglects the role played by subnational governments in managing the pandemic. In response to this predicament, this article explores the territorial socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and the responses adopted by subnational governments through the case studies of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and KwaDukuza Local Municipality in South Africa. A territorial understanding of the pandemic and responses is important because of the spatial dimensions of the pandemic. Methodologically, the article utilises data from a survey conducted with informal workers in the two municipalities. The article shows the diverging impact and responses from the two municipalities, and how pre-existing socio-economic structures reinforced prevailing challenges. The article argues that a territorial understanding of the pandemic allows governments to adopt targeted interventions to enhance the effectiveness of responses to the different spatial dimensions of the pandemic.

Testing the expectancy-disconfirmation theory: Geography, employment status and household size of local communities determine their perspectives of a local mine business in South Africa.

Local communities’ perspectives on mining businesses are a matter of endless debate, particularly in developing countries. If misunderstood or mismanaged by authorities (local and national), these perspectives may lead to violent and deadly reactions, which are unaffordable given the tremendous contribution of mining businesses to socio-economic development. The recurrence of these violent events means that authorities and mining businesses may have been failing to understand the dynamic of local people’s expectations. Here, to explain the complexity of the interactions of local people with mine businesses, we collected socio-economic data along with data on people’s satisfaction levels towards the services delivered by a local mining business in the Mose Kotane Local Municipality in South Africa. Data collected were analyzed by fitting a Structural Equation Model (SEM). We found that only 4–8% of communities’ expectations were met by the local mine business, and that closest communities to the mine do not benefit significantly more services than away-communities (Chi-square = 2.71, df = 4, P = 0.60). However, the proportion of moderately satisfied people (in relation to the services delivered by the mine) tends to increase when moving away from the mine while the proportion of dissatisfied people decreases. Our SEM, linking socio-economic data to communities’ perspectives, shows a good fit (Fisher C value = 0; P = 1.00, n = 158). In communities away from the mine, residents who were initially happy about the establishment of the mining business tend to be satisfied with the services delivered by the mine (β = 2.69±0.41, P<0.001) but these residents are likely to be employed people (P<0.05). In communities close to the mine, large-sized households tend to be satisfied with the mine-delivered services (P = 0.04). This is potentially due to the fact that a large household is more likely to have at least one person working for the mine. Collectively, these findings reveal how socio-economic variables determine people’s perspectives on the mining business.

Ease of Doing Business in Local Government: Push and Pull Factors for Business Investment in Selected South African Municipalities

Ease of doing business with municipalities and within municipal areas refers to the simplicity, effortlessness, and extent to which private enterprises can establish and conduct their business. It is influenced by multiple factors such as the conduciveness of the statutory and regulatory framework and the effectiveness of municipal structures and processes, in order to reduce bureaucratic red tape for the simplification of administrative processes such as the registration of business property, the issuing of permits, and access to electricity. Municipalities thus play a significant role in attracting and retaining business investment by establishing a conducive climate for business growth and local economic development. The aim of this article was to analyze the findings of a survey that was conducted to pinpoint business investment pull and push factors in selected municipalities in South Africa. By means of semi-structured interviews, a survey was undertaken with seven target groups. The obtained data were then triangulated with a desktop analysis of sampled businesses (i.e., case studies) that had relocated, mainly due to municipal service delivery failures. The survey revealed the underlying factors that lead to ease of doing business weaknesses, uncovered winning strategies to attract business investment, and proposed measures to enhance municipal business retention praxis.

Forecasting the Economic Growth Impacts of Climate Change in South Africa in the 2030 and 2050 Horizons

In this paper, we estimate the effects of climate change by means of the systems generalised method of moments (System GMM) using panel data across South African municipalities from 1993 to 2016. We adapt the estimates to the municipal economic structures to forecast losses at the municipal level for the 2030 and 2050 horizons. The projections show that, relative to the 1995–2000 levels, South Africa’s economy would lose about 1.82 billion United States dollars (USD) on average due to climate change following the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) of 4.5 Wm−2 radiative forcing scenario, and USD 2.306 billion following the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario by 2030. By 2050, the losses will be USD 1.9 billion and USD 2.48 billion, respectively. The results vary across municipalities depending on geographic location and sectors. Natural resources and primary sectors are the most impacted, while the economic losses are more than the gains in almost all municipalities in South Africa. This has a significant bearing on sustainable poverty reduction in South Africa through pro-poor industrialisation. The implication of the findings is discussed in the paper’s conclusion.

A Multi‐objective Optimization Approach for Disaggregating Employment Data

In many countries, including South Africa, data on employment is rarely available on a downscaled level, such as building level, and is only available on less detailed levels, such as municipal level. The aim of this research was to develop a methodology to disaggregate the employment data that is available at an aggregate level to a disaggregate, detailed building level. To achieve this, the methodology consisted of two parts. First, a method was established that could be used to prepare a base data set to be used for disaggregating the employment data. Second, a multiobjective optimization approach was used to allocate the number of employment opportunities within a municipality to building level. The algorithm was developed using an Evolutionary Algorithm framework and applied to a case study in a metropolitan municipality in South Africa. The results showed favorable use of multiobjective optimization to disaggregate employment data to building level. By enhancing the detail of employment data, planners, policy makers, modelers and other users of such data can benefit from understanding employment patterns at a much more detailed level and making improved decisions based on disaggregated data and models.

Factors influencing innovation among small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in marginalized settings: evidence from South Africa

ABSTRACT Achieving inclusive outcomes through innovation is such that small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) can no longer be ignored. This study aims to investigate the determinants of innovation activities among SMMEs in a developing country context using evidence from South Africa. Using the binary logistic regression model, this paper analysed a dataset of 643 SMMEs located across eight district municipalities in South Africa. The study findings revealed that there are dynamic innovation activities occurring among SMMEs located in rural and/or informal settings, focusing on making incremental changes to production and delivery processes adopted from elsewhere. The study identified several factors that hinder or enhance innovation activities among SMMEs, revealing that the factors associated with innovation activities vary depending on the nature of the innovation activity. Empirical insights from this study could better inform strategies used by policy makers to promote innovation that strengthen the competitiveness of SMMEs and innovation that is socially inclusive.