scholarly journals Shaping a township: self-connecting as �counter conduct� in Umlazi, Durban

2021 ◽  
Vol 9s11 ◽  
pp. 93-106
Author(s):  
Shauna Mottiar
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Movements ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Self Service ◽  
The Government

South Africa has high levels of protest. Protest actions are frequently linked to demands for �service delivery�, specifically the lack of access to housing, water and electricity in poor neighbourhoods. As a result, residents in these areas have resorted to informal, self-service provision in the form of illegal water and electricity connections. These self-services have assumed two narratives: the first, in official circles, as criminalised activities; and the second, by protestors and social movements, as gaining basic social rights. This article examines the various methods of �illegal� water and electricity connections in the township of Umlazi, situated in Durban, South Africa. It draws on �counter conduct� to understand illegal connections as �diffuse and subdued forms of resistance�. Techniques of counter conduct by Umlazi residents resist both forms and quantities of service provision through the act of self-connecting. Self-connections use the government�s own techniques against it while adopting its own governmentality. The article is based on a qualitative study comprising interviews with householders of Emhlabeni, Umlazi Section D.

scholarly journals Fostering public accountability in South Africa: A reflection on challenges and successes

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pandelani H. Munzhedzi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
The Public ◽  
Current State ◽  
Public Service Provision ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government

Accountability and oversight are constitutional requirements in all the spheres of government in the Republic of South Africa and their foundation is in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996. All spheres of government are charged with the constitutional mandate of providing public services. The level of responsibility and public services provision also goes with the level of capacity of a particular sphere. However, most of the direct and visible services that the public receives are at the local sphere of government. As such, enormous resources are channelled towards this sphere of government so that the said public services could be provided. It is imperative that the three spheres of government account for the huge expenditures during the public service provision processes. The parliaments of national and provincial governments exercise oversight and accountability over their executives and administrations through the Public Accounts Committees, while the local sphere of government relies on the Municipal Public Accounts Committees. This article is theoretical in nature, and it seeks to explore the current state of public accountability in South Africa and to evaluate possible measures so as to enhance public accountability. The article argues that the current public accountability mechanisms are not efficient and effective. It is recommended that these mechanisms ought to be enhanced by inter alia capacitating the legislative bodies at national, provincial and local spheres of the government.

scholarly journals The Rural Immigration Effects on Urban Service Delivery in South Africa (SA)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6(J)) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Buyani Nkabinde ◽  
Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya ◽  
Nirmala Dorasamy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Rural To Urban Migration ◽  
The Government

The current socio-economic and political problems of South Africa are rooted in the colonial apartheid era as scholars and researchers suggest through extensive research. However, there have been high levels of service delivery protests related to the government performance on the issues of service delivery to the local communities’ countrywide. Governments departments appear to be lacking much required knowledge and understanding of external factors associated with rural to urban migration such social-economic factors and other various relevant challenges, hence, local authorities are struggling to meet up with demands caused by the ever-increasing number of urban populations, which affects services delivery performance. The study was quantitative approach and used 5 Likert scale questionnaires which were distributed in the selected areas of eThekwini city. A total of 100 with 25 respondents per area, chosen areas include emhlabeni, emalandeni, ezimeleni and silver city. Whereas, qualitative aspects of the study were secondary data through extensive literature review, the study has found that indeed rural to urban migration has a negative impact on service delivery the study argue that service delivery, rural to urban migration, public participation need to be part of the government agenda holistically to improve service delivery and capacity of local authorities. This study recommends proactive urban planning and community involvement through public participation channels. The generalization of the findings of this study should be done with care.

scholarly journals Provider perspectives on contraceptive service delivery: findings from a qualitative study in Johannesburg, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Lince-Deroche ◽  
Cheryl Hendrickson ◽  
Aneesa Moolla ◽  
Sharon Kgowedi ◽  
Masangu Mulongo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Provider Perspectives ◽  
Contraceptive Service

Appreciating the Diversity of NGO’s Towards Service Delivery in South Africa: Drawing Evidences from Eastern Cape Province

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mutemi Kajiita ◽  
Simon Kang’ethe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
The Government

The dismantling of Apartheid era in South Africa in 1994, the advent of democratic era, was welcomed with a package of hope for the citizens as far as development was concerned. Since then, the government has been playing a key role in service delivery. Nonetheless, gaps exist in dispensing an array of services and this has prompted the interventions of NGOs in such developmental discourses. Through a mixed method research approach, this article explores the milestones of NGOs in South Africa while drawing pieces of evidence from Eastern Cape Province. The findings indicate that NGOs have responded positively to the prevention and treatment of various diseases, offered training and facilitated medical facilities in the province, promoted early childhood education and finally ensured regularity in services delivery. The article recommends that the public should appreciate and show goodwill to the efforts of the NGOs, pull their resources together to support and sustain the already existing NGO projects.

scholarly journals Reproductive intentions and choices among HIV-infected individuals in Cape Town, South Africa: Lessons for reproductive policy and service provision from a qualitative study

2005 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Reproductive Intentions

While many HIV-infected individuals do not wish to have children, others want children despite their infected status. The desire and intent to have children among HIV-infected individuals may increase because of improved quality of life and survival following commencement of antiretroviral treatment. In developing countries such as South Africa, where the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide reside, specific government reproductive health policy and service provision for HIV-infected individuals is underdeveloped. This policy brief presents findings from a qualitative study that explored HIV-infected individuals’ reproductive intentions, decision-making, and need for reproductive health services. The study also assessed the opinions of health-service providers, policymakers, and influential figures within nongovernmental organizations who are likely to play important roles in the shaping and delivery of reproductive health services. Conducted at two health centers in the Cape Town metropolitan area in South Africa from May 2004 to January 2005, the study focused on issues that impact reproductive choice and decision-making and identified critical policy, health service, and research-related matters to be addressed.

scholarly journals The Provision of Free Higher Education in South Africa: A Proper Concept or a Parable?

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Halalisani Victor Mlambo ◽  
Mduduzi Hlongwa ◽  
Mandla Mubecua
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
The Political ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Government ◽  
Major Factors

The provision of free-higher education is one of the most debated issues in South Africa today. The issue of free-higher education has drawn many commentators from sectors such as the media, business and within the political dominions. The main argument is where will the money to fund free-higher education will come from, whether the provision of free-higher education in South Africa is a proper concept or just a parable and also the terms of reference with regards to the provision of free-higher education in the country. By strictly examining the available and relevant literature on the concept of free-higher education in South Africa, the study was able to comprehensively understand the dynamics, implications and probability of providing free-higher education. Infrastructure challenges and economic growth are undoubtedly the major factors hindering the country from providing free-higher education, and unfortunately, with the government already forging ahead with implementing free-higher education without a proper and extensive feasibility study, the hasty implementation of free-higher education will have devastating implications for growth and service delivery in the country. 

Marketing Strategies for E-Government and E-Agriculture Services in South Africa

2012 ◽  
pp. 76-89
Author(s):  
Blessing Maumbe ◽  
V. Owei
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Government Information ◽  
Government Service ◽  
Market Communication ◽  
The Government

The government of South Africa (GSA) has embarked on a major program for e-service delivery. The Batho Pele Gateway Project is the access portal to government information and a key driver of the e-government transformation in South Africa. Although the GSA is determined to make e-government service delivery successful, the average citizen does not fully comprehend the key transformations driving government engagement with civil society and businesses. Therefore, the Cape Gateway Project (CGP) is confronted with the immense task to develop and implement a strategic marketing program for e-government by the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) which is not only a portal, but also a call centre and walk-in centre. Various marketing tactics have been deployed, but their efficacy in elevating awareness levels and converting that to actual sustained use of e-government service delivery remains unknown. This chapter proposes an e-government marketing framework and uses CGP experience to examine communication and branding strategies for e-government in a South African context. Key challenges facing e-government market communication strategy are highlighted.

The Integrated National Electrification Programme and political democracy

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Tinto ◽  
K G Banda
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Political Democracy ◽  
Idea 2004 ◽  
Social Service Delivery ◽  
The Government

Since the coming of democracy in South Africa, the last decade has been marked by extraordinary, yet positive changes in policy development. Democratic organisation, both as a system of government and as a value system commanding the support of ordinary people, is of key importance in these developments and the implications for South Africa are still being analysed. Noticeable are the fundamental changes in the energy sector where there has been a shift from energy self-reliance and energy security to a more sustainable policy approach driven by economic efficiency, social equity and environment protection. Institutes of Democracy like IDEA (2004) concur with this trend that a strong democratic system must support poverty reduction for meaningful democratic change and, in practice; this is clearly the trend being defined. It is now a sustainable development issue, and voter’s confidence that is fast becoming the defining principle and drives for rapid policy change and service delivery in the form of an Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) in the energy sector. Policy makers in energy policy acknowledge this phenomenon as defining what is now seen as a ‘post-apartheid energy paradigm shift’. In this paper, it is suggested that the National Electrification Programme (NEP) has performed beyond expectation in increasing access to electricity for the poor in the country. It is also argued that, there is now an electrification and political democracy nexus exhibited in social and political development of this country. In this line of thought, the argument given is that one of the reasons why people voted for the ruling party in 1999 and 2000 was the NEP. Furthermore this identified linkage provides policy recommendations that suggest that the government should deliver other basic services in a similar manner in order to gain people’s confidence. In South Africa, because of the country’s unique social, economic and political history, a trade-off between basic social service delivery and linkage with democracy then becomes very crucial. Keywords

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