Impacts of municipal re-demarcations on service delivery in South Africa
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
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.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who submit articles to this journal from 31st March 2014 for publication, agree to the following terms:
a) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share and adapt the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
b) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
c) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Open Access Citation Advantage Service). Where authors include such a work in an institutional repository or on their website (ie. a copy of a work which has been published in a UTS ePRESS journal, or a pre-print or post-print version of that work), we request that they include a statement that acknowledges the UTS ePRESS publication including the name of the journal, the volume number and a web-link to the journal item.
d) Authors should be aware that the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) License permits readers to share (copy and redistribute the work in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the work) for any purpose, even commercially, provided they also give appropriate credit to the work, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. They may do these things in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests you or your publisher endorses their use.
For Issue 13/14, and all issues before, the following copyright applied:
Authors submitting a paper to UTS ePRESS publications agree to assign a limited license to UTS ePRESS if and when the manuscript is accepted for publication. This license allows UTS ePRESS to publish a manuscript in a given issue. Articles published by UTS ePRESS are protected by copyright which is retained by the authors who assert their moral rights. Authors control translation and reproduction rights to their works published by UTS ePRESS. UTS ePRESS publications are copyright and all rights are reserved worldwide. Downloads of specific portions of them are permitted for personal use only, not for commercial use or resale. Permissions to reprint or use any materials should be directed to UTS ePRESS via the journal's main editor, Alison Brown, journal@clgf.org.uk
References
DCG (2014) Back to Basics “serving our communities better” discussion document: local government back to basics strategy. Pretoria: DCG.
DCG (2015) DCG annual report for the financial year 2014/15. Pretoria: DCG.
Everatt, D. (2021) South Africans are revolting against inept local government. Why it matters. https://theconversation.com/south-africans-are-revolting-against-inept-local-government-why-it-matters-155483.
Boyle, R. (2016) Re-shaping local government: overview of selected international experience with local government reorganisation, mergers, amalgamation and coordination. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration.
Bratton, M. (ed.) (2010) Citizen perceptions of local government responsiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa. Afrobarometer Working Paper No. 119.
Buis, H. and Boex, J. (2015) Improving local government performance by strengthening their 5 core capabilities. The Hague: VNG International.
Cameron, R. (2006) Local government boundary reorganization. In Pillay, U., Tomlinson, R. and Du Toit, J. (eds). Democracy and delivery: urban policy in South Africa, (pp.76-106). Cape Town: Human Sciences Research Council.
Cameron, R. and Milne, C. (2013) Size, efficiency and local democracy in South Africa: a preliminary assessment. African Journal of Public Affairs, 6 (4), 1-20.
Chang, B. (2010) ‘The power of geographical boundaries: cultural, political, and economic border effects in a unitary nation’, Masters dissertation, Iowa State University.
Collins Chabane Local Municipality (2017) LIM345 Local Municipality 2017/18-2022 adopted IDP. Malamulele: Collins Chabane Local Municipality.
Crous, M. (2002) ‘Service delivery in the South African public service: implementation of the Batho Pele principles by Statistics South Africa’, Masters Dissertation, University of Pretoria.
Devkota, K.L. (2014) The great amalgamation. http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2014-11-12/the-great amalgamation.html.
Dollery, B.E. and Robotti, L. (eds) (2008) The theory and practice of local government reform. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
ENCA (2015) Ventersdorp/Potch merger is not welcome residents. https://www.enca.com/south-africa/ventersdorppotch-merger-not-welcome--residents.
Ezekiel, M.P. and Oriakhogba, D.O. (2015) Towards a viable local government structure in Nigeria: overview of US and German local government systems. Mizan Law Review, 9 (1), 201-214.
Fox, W.F. and Gurley, T. (2006) Will consolidation improve sub-national governments? World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 3913 (May), 1-45.
GCIS (2019) District development model to be launched in Waterberg District https://www.gcis.gov.za/newsroom/media-releases/district-development-model-be-launched-waterberg-district.
Hansen, S.W (2015) The democratic costs of size: how increasing size affects citizen satisfaction with local government. Political Studies, 63 (2), 373-389.
Holomisa, B. (2016) Who has the final say between the Demarcation Board and citizens in municipal borders?.https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2016-05-06-who-has-the-final-say-between-the-demarcation-board-and-citizens-in-municipal-borders/.
Hornby, D. (ed) (2004) Shaping South Africa: reflections on the first term of the Municipal Demarcation Board, South Africa 1999-2004. Pretoria: MDB.
Idelman, E. (2010) Local authorities and local territories in rural West Africa. http://www.foncier-developpement.fr/wp-content/uploads/Fiche-Idelman-ENG.pdf.
JB Marks Local Municipality. (2017a). 2016/2017 Unaudited draft annual report. Potchefstroom: JB Marks Local Municipality.
JB Marks Local Municipality. (2017b). Integrated development plan 2017-2022. Potchefstroom: JB Marks Local Municipality.
Khumalo, B. and Ncube, M. (2016) ‘Financial and functional viability and sustainability of municipalities: beyond the demarcation instrument’, Paper presented to the MDB conference on demarcation and spatial transformation, Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, 23-24 June.
Lago-Peñas, S. and Martinez-Vazquez. J. (2013) The challenge of local government size: theoretical perspectives, international experience and policy reform. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Mafikeng mail (n.d.) Cope decries amalgamation of Ventersdorp, Tlokwe Municipalities.https://www.northwestnewspapers.co.za/mafikengmail/community/blogs/letters/98-cope-decries-ama.
Mapuva. J. (2014) Local governance, democratisation and constitutionalism in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, 5 (5.4), 1-25.
Matemba, L. (2000) Challenges facing new municipalities. Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Parliamentary Liaison Office Briefing Paper 36.
Mavungu, M.E. (2012) Ideological clashes behind provincial boundary disputes in post-apartheid South Africa. South African Geographical Journal 94 (1), 60–74.
MDB (2014) Municipal Demarcation Board Annual Report 2013/14: Celebrating 15 Years of Spatial Transformation. Pretoria: MDB.
MDB (2015) Municipal Demarcation Board responds to High Court ruling in DA vs MDB court interdict. Press release, 06 November 2015. Pretoria: MDB.
MDB (2016) Municipal Demarcation Board annual report 2015/16: optimising spatial planning through integration. Pretoria: MDB.
MDB (2021) Demarcation bulletin issue 2, Sep 2021. https://www.demarcation.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DEMARCATION-BULLETIN-ISSUE-2.pdf.
Mdumela, T.G., (2016) ‘What tribal affinities have to do with local government service delivery’, Master dissertation, University of Limpopo.
Municipal IQ (2009) The intricacies of re-demarcation. Briefing #161, 8 October. Johannesburg: Municipal IQ.
Municipal IQ (2013) Sasolburg: the importance of communication. Briefing #415, 22 January. Johannesburg: Municipal IQ.
Mukwevho, N. (2016) Tribal tension between the Venda and Tsonga groups fuel conflict in Vuwani. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2016/05/09/tribal-tension-between-the-venda-and-tsonga-groups-fuel-conflict-in-vuwani.
Napier, J.C. (2007) Delimitation of local government ward boundaries in the Tshwane municipal area: the challenge of achieving fair political representation, Politeia 26 (2), 179-191.
Netswera M.M. (2019) ‘The effects of municipal demarcation on service delivery and social integration in Collins Chabane and JB Marks Local Municipalities’ PhD thesis, University of South Africa.
Nkhahle, S (ed). (2015) 15 years of developmental and democratic local government (2000-2015): celebrating achievements whilst acknowledging the challenges. SALGA: Pretoria.
PMG (2021) State of local government. https://pmg.org.za/blog/State%20of%20Local%20Government.
Potchefstroom Herald (2017) Protests in Ventersdorp and Tlokwe show ANC failure to deliver services, says DA. http://potchefstroomherald.co.za/35930/protests-ventersdorp-tlokwe-show-anc-failure-deliver-services-says-da/July 14, 2017.
Reddy, P.S. (ed). (1999). Local government democratisation and decentralisation: a Review of the Southern African region. Kenwyn: Juta & Co.
Republic of South Africa (1996) Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Republic of South Africa (1998) Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act, (Act 27 of 1998). Pretoria: Government Printer.
Shale, V. (2005) Demarcating local authorities’ boundaries for good governance versus the people-to-people relations: The case of Lesotho. EISA Occasional Paper number 28 (January), 1-12.
Somerville, D. and Gibbs, M. (2012) Legal and governance models for shared services in local government. Sydney: University of Technology Sydney’s Centre for Local Government.
Statistics South Africa (2016a) Non-financial census of municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2015. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa.
Statistics South Africa. (2016b) General Household Survey (GHS) 2015. Pretoria: Statistics South Africa.
Tonwe, D.A. (2011) Conceptualizing local government from a multi-dimensional perspective. Higher Education of Social Science, 1(1), 66-71.