A critique of service delivery in rural municipalities with particular reference to Ndwedwe local municipality.

Abstract

The outcomes of the 2016 local government elections reflect the dissatisfaction of the citizens with the government’s pace of service delivery. These results also indicate that the ruling party, African National Congress (ANC) has not kept promises of the improved and high quality of services. This is particularly relevant for Ndwedwe community which is still lacking basic municipal services. South Africa consists of three levels of government, namely the national, provincial as well as local government. Out of these levels of government, the local government sphere becomes the most important since it is closest to the people and it is mandated by the Constitution (RSA, 1996) to deliver services to the citizens efficient, effectively and economically. Local government is divided into three (3) categories: namely metropolitan, district and local councils. The majority of local councils are concentrated in rural areas and have backlogs on basic services and infrastructure. The current study was conducted at Ndwedwe Local Municipality to gauge the resultant impacts of local government restructuring and transformation process for small rural municipalities in the Province of Kwa Zulu-Natal. To this end, the South African local government has contributed significantly in improving social lives for local citizens and facilitating local democracy. The current study argues that, while the Ndwedwe Municipality has benefited through democratic processes of South African local government, there is much which needs to be addressed regarding its service delivery and communication strategies. For example, a significant progress has been made in the delivery of water and sanitation, electricity and housing, however this is not enough since these services have not yet reached the majorities of citizens of this local authority. Furthermore, community participation strategies and IDP processes of the municipality need to be improved by incorporating values of good governance such as openness, transparency and more consultation. Access to basic services like medical care, clean running water and sanitation, compounded by non-availability of facilities within the Ndwedwe area was among major challenges highlighted in the current study. These challenges result in the spread of numerous diseases caused by polluted water and poor health care services. Against this background, it is recommended that the Ndwedwe Local Municipality prioritize its budget towards the development of infrastructure and the escalation of services in the communities of Ndwedwe area. Facilities like parks and sports fields for youth should be mobilized through collaboration with other metro councils and the private sector to take the Ndwedwe youth off the street. The study has reviewed the relevant literature of local government to documents contemporary trends in local government and to identify service delivery gaps which need immediate attention. The revitalization of the South African local government is also essential in realizing the Sustainable Development Goals which are designed to steer socio-economic opportunities for local citizens. The study used the mixed method approach to obtain sufficient empirical data from the community members and officials of Ndwedwe Local authority. The community members were drawn from three areas of Ndwedwe, namely, Maphephetheni, Njoboyinye and Thafamasi. Quantitative research was conducted to gauge the perceptions of the residents about the services provided by the municipality. Qualitative research was conducted with the municipal officials who shed some light about services provided by the municipality and the challenges which have been encountered along the way. The findings of the study clearly indicate that the Ndwedwe area comprises a highly illiterate population, which makes it extremely difficult for the municipality to obtain appropriate skills to assist in the development of the area. Furthermore, the Ndwedwe area is also confronted by a high level of unemployment which is a culmination of the scarcity of academic skills mentioned above. Education centres should be opened for the majority of youth and adults who have missed educational opportunities for a number of reasons and this should be done in collaboration with the Kwa Zulu-Natal Department of Education. In addition, community projects through the Department of Public Works should be a matter of priority in the Ndwedwe area in order to minimize the unemployment rate by creating job opportunities.