Poll result poses challenges for South Africa parties

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Municipal Government ◽  
Executive Council ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Poll Result ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Rural Policy

Significance Under the Municipal Systems Act, councillors must meet within two weeks of the official announcement of the election results (August 6) to elect a municipal government consisting of a mayor and executive council. Impacts The poll's outcome may create political pressures to merge DA-dominated municipalities with larger ANC-run ones. DA-led councils will need to draw up new policy frameworks, opening opportunities for specialist consultancies. The dominance of the rural areas in the ANC may push the national government to prioritise rural policy issues.

Cities will be South Africa's key vote battlegrounds

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Court Ruling ◽  
Tax Base ◽  
Electoral Roll ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Content Type

Subject Outlook for municipal elections in South Africa. Significance Municipal elections are due between May 18 and August 16. Last November, a Constitutional Court ruling stated that voters' postal addresses must accompany entries on the electoral roll in order to prevent irregularities. It has already forced several by-elections to be annulled and will likely cause difficulties for the upcoming polls. Impacts Policies pursued by municipalities will prove nationally significant -- since the eight largest account for 59% of total economic activity. If it experiences major losses in cities, the ANC may shore up its base by prioritising social spending in rural areas. Urban voters are more likely than rural ones to be aggrieved by fiscal leakage because they make a larger contribution to the tax base.

School governing body for parents' productive involvement in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-848
Author(s):  
Kofi Poku Quan-Baffour
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
School Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Governing Body ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Innovation In Education ◽  
Management And Leadership

PurposeThe democratic constitution that came into effect in 1994 and ushered in the new South Africa recognises parents' role in education hence the established of an innovative school governance structure of which parents are in the majority. Before then, there existed parents–teachers association in schools. Its members were handpicked and therefore undemocratic and ineffective. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the innovation in school governance encourages parents in the rural areas to be productively involved in school matters.Design/methodology/approachThe study used the qualitative research method of focus group interviews to explore the extent to which the school governing body fosters active involvement of parents in school matters. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 21 school governors from three rural schools who were deemed information-rich to participate in the study.FindingsThe study found that the post-apartheid school governing body concept, which is an innovation in education management and leadership, encourages and promotes productive parents' involvement in education of their children.Originality/valueThe findings have lessons and implications for school management and leadership in the developing countries because as an Africa adage says, “it takes a whole village to bring up a child”.

Rural entrepreneurship and transformation: the role of learnerships

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 734-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siphokazi Koyana ◽  
Roger B. Mason
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Rural Entrepreneurship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the lessons that could be learnt from the first year of implementing the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority’s Rural Development Programme. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory, qualitative study involved unemployed people from a rural location in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. A focus group and in-depth interviews were held with the current learners, the programme manager, the skills training providers, and the royal custodian of the locality. Findings While highlighting the factors that enhance success as well as those that impede development, the study found that the learnership contributed significantly to social transformation through rural entrepreneurship. It empowers disadvantaged women and youths to gain access and skills which, if the recommended measures to sustain the programme are implemented, could enable them to grow bigger businesses. Research limitations/implications Since this was an exploratory, qualitative study, the limitations of a small, convenience sample need to be overcome by a larger, quantitative study, and a more complete collection of accurate secondary data. Originality/value Despite the obvious limitations, this study has contributed to the literature on both rural entrepreneurship and transformation in South Africa. Both are under-researched topics, despite transformation being a socio-political imperative and entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas, being a key to overcoming South Africa’s high unemployment rate.

Social media, diffusion of innovations, morale and digital inequality

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-495
Author(s):  
Marion Lucille Williams ◽  
Alexander Dhoest ◽  
Ian Saunderson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Digital Inequality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore social media usage in an academic library in South Africa and the factors influencing its use. The primary goal of the study was to examine perceptions surrounding the impact of non-adoption of social media on morale, and to explore the consequences of digital inequality. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative method, in-depth interviews were conducted with a small sample comprising six key informants at the University of Limpopo Libraries. Findings The findings suggest that non-adoption of social media has a negative influence on morale, and that it is a very necessary tool required for interaction with students as well as promotion and marketing of the library’s resources. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited to one academic library in South Africa situated in a rural area. The research suggests that more academic libraries in rural areas be studied to ascertain if geographical location and finance are barriers to social media adoption. Originality/value This study addresses non-adoption of social media and suggests ways to improve employee morale and retention. The research contributes to current research.

Institutional inertia in a changing climate

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Taylor
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Municipal Government ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Adaptation Planning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Risks ◽  
The Government ◽  
Climate Adaptation Planning

Purpose – This paper aims to present an investigation of the climate adaptation planning and implementation process undertaken by the municipal government of Cape Town, South Africa, situating the findings within the broader literature on governance-related barriers to adaptation. Design/methodology/approach – By developing an in-depth case study using methods of organizational ethnography, the research traces phases of climate adaptation planning and implementation in Cape Town. Applied thematic analysis surfaces issues of coordination, decision-making, resource constraints and tracking progress as key constraints to urban climate adaptation. Findings – While considerable progress has been made on developing a citywide climate adaptation plan for Cape Town, implementation is constrained by poor monitoring and feedback within and between departments and a lack of oversight and impetus from central authorities within the government hierarchy. Research limitations/implications – Further research is needed on the interface between technical and political decision-making, governance arrangements that facilitate coordination and iterative adjustment and the organizational uptake of externally commissioned work on climate adaptation. Practical implications – The paper points to the need for a climate adaptation coordination function situated higher up in the municipal government structure than the environment department to implement, monitor, evaluate and revise measures to reduce climate risks and vulnerabilities citywide. Originality/value – The paper is of value to those seeking to understand local government decision-making, as it pertains to climate adaptation and those looking for means to address climate risks and vulnerabilities in cities, especially in South Africa.

Analysis on the perceived occurrence of challenges delaying the delivery of water infrastructure assets in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khotso Dithebe ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala ◽  
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Municipal Government ◽  
Policy Uncertainty ◽  
Water Infrastructure ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Fiscal Deficits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private Financing

Purpose Minimal private participation for infrastructure development continues to affect developing economies like South Africa. This study aims to determine the perceived occurrence of challenges delaying the delivery of water infrastructure assets and the role of both public and private financing for infrastructure development. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative approach was used, and questionnaires were administered to stakeholders that have participated in delivering water infrastructure assets in South Africa. Of the 96 returned questionnaires, 91 were usable, representing 61 per cent response rate. Data from the survey were analysed using descriptive and exploratory factor analyses. The reliability test represented a value of 0.945, indicating internal consistency. Findings Data analysis revealed that corruption, hostility, weak project structuring, high fiscal deficits by state government, cost recovery constraints, high credit risk for private financing and unreliable planning and procurement processes are major challenges delaying the delivery of water infrastructure assets. More so, municipal government remains the key custodian of water infrastructure delivery with limited support from private capital as a result of political administrative instability, legislation and policy uncertainty and inadequate risk-adjusted returns. Originality/value Emphasis should be made on eradicating corruption and non-transparent financial management to improve municipal creditworthiness and amending and implementing much improved legislation and foreign inclusion. Additionally, financial models to complement the existing mechanisms of financing water infrastructure projects should be sought and used. Complete eradication of infrastructure challenges envisages to reduce fiscal deficits, improve service delivery and enhance the competitiveness and productivity of the economy.

South Africa debt crisis threatens municipal solvency

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Small Town ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Revenue Streams

Significance Until recently, worsening indicators were confined to small-town and rural areas, but now, as the report highlights, the problem has spread to major metropolitan local government areas (‘metros’), which house 40% of the population and concentrate 60% of GDP. Impacts The proposed diversification of electricity supply may further complicate municipal revenue streams. The current crisis will strain constitutionally mandated relations between central, provincial and local governments. The opposition DA is unlikely to capitalise on the ruling ANC’s governance failures, particularly in rural areas.

scholarly journals Tourism implications and challenges in Musina municipality: a case of the Big tree nature reserve and adjacent tourism ventures; Limpopo

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azwindini Isaac Ramaano
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The North ◽  
Tourism Enterprises ◽  
Vhembe District

PurposeThis study evaluates tourism implications and challenges around the Big Tree Nature Reserve with its adjacent tourism ventures and entities in Musina Municipality, Limpopo Province, in South Africa.Design/methodology/approachData got compiled by interviews and questionnaires in addition to focus group discussions and physical observation.FindingsThe study revealed many challenges associated with tourism undertakings around the Big Tree Nature Reserve and its nearby tourism entities. The benefits of tourism were not efficiently tapped into by the local communities within and around the study area. The factors contributing to the poor state of tourism running got delineated by the findings of the study. Hence, there was a potential obligation for a turnaround effective tourism strategy to improve tourism enterprises to benefits local communities within the area.Originality/valueMusina Municipality is one of the remote regions in the North of Limpopo Province, in South Africa. It also has impoverished rural communities akin to many rural areas within the continent. Despite the mentioned, it considerably covers a mostly tourism-orientated area within the Vhembe District.

Water and sanitation policies for improving health in South Africa: overcoming the institutional legacy of apartheid

Water Policy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 627-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edina Sinanovic ◽  
Sandi Mbatsha ◽  
Stephen Gundry ◽  
Jim Wright ◽  
Clas Rehnberg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The South ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
New Policies

The burden of water-related disease is closely related to both the socio-economic situation and public health issues like access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene services. Poverty eradication, through improved access to water and sanitation, is the South African government's major priority. This is partly achieved through subsidising the cost of water and sanitation provision to the poor in rural areas. Whilst the new policies have made a remarkable impact on improved access to water and sanitation services, a general problem since the new approach in 1994 has been the lack of integration of policies for water and sanitation and health. This paper analyses the policies concerning rural water supply and sanitation in South Africa. It considers the structure of institutions, the division of responsibilities and legislated and financial capacity of the South Africa's water sector. A more integrated approach for the policies aiming at water access, sanitation and health is needed. In addition, as the local government's capacity to implement different programmes is limited, a review of the financing system is necessary.

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