Exploring learning in community leadership: case of Umhlabuyalingana.

Abstract

Learning, the acquisition of knowledge and skills via study, experience or general instruction is an essential part of leadership. While leadership in our modern societies are exposed to many forms of learning, the same cannot be said of their rural counterparts, even though they face similar challenges. It is therefore important to explore and understand how, what and where rural leaders access learning. Focusing on democratically and constitutionally elected leadership, including traditional leadership, this study seeks to investigate learning (how, what and where) among community leaders, using Ward 16 of the Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality as a case study. Ward 16 of the Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, is one of the five local municipalities under the Umkhanyakude District Municipality (in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa), and is a deeply rural area, with predominantly people of African descent. The study which was located within an interpretivist paradigm, employed the qualitative approach, using a case study. Data was collected through face-to-face, semi-structured interviews in addition to transect walks and focus group sessions. The study, through the exploration of three key learning contexts for local leadership in rural setting are: municipal (democratically and constitutionally elected), traditional (mostly not elected) and community activism. It is the belief of the study that once there is an understanding of what, where and how they access learning, communities would be better served by different role-players like non-governmental organisations, municipalities, development agencies and government entities. It was found that community leaders are exposed to various types and forms of learning which are formal, informal and non-formal. However, tertiary learning was conspicuously absent. The study recommended that there must be efforts to seek, investigate and maximise understanding of the rural dynamics – leadership, learning and community structures. This would mean to review the role and status of traditional leadership. An establishment of satellite tertiary institutions as a form of formal learning and educational entities for the development and benefit of community.