The perceptions of youth on service delivery violence in Mpumalanga Province
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Date
2012
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Abstract
The study focused on the perceptions of youth based in Wesselton and Siyathemba
townships (Mpumalanga Province) towards service delivery violence. The aim of the study
was to identify the challenges and the concerns of protestors and to highlight the
perceptions of the youth about the causes of poor service delivery.
This study started by reviewing the constitutional basis for basic service delivery, youth
studies and selected related studies on service delivery protests. Thereafter, the candidate
undertook original research on a valid sample of youth of Mpumalanga province,
questionnaire sent to a sample of 150 youth within both townships (Mpumalanga
province). The researcher adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodology for the
analyses upon which conclusions were drawn. The study describes the respondents
concerns, challenges and reasons for service delivery violence. The main findings show
that the majority of the respondents agreed that protests were about lack of or poor services
delivery in both townships.
This study also provides evidence that the current problems confronting people of
Mpumalanga province and many citizens in South Africa are the result not only of
historical factors, but also ‘crisis of service delivery’, which in turn is as a result of poor
management, corruption, nepotism, low budget and of the pro-market policies adopted by
the new governments. The results reveal that councillors are not accountable for the people
as they put their needs first. Furthermore, results show that the majority of the respondents
were protesting violently to reflect their frustration and anger. In conclusion the study
proposes that the South African government must go back to Batho-Pele (means people
first) principles as they are regarded as the solution to address the impatience and violent
protests that could result from the failures of government (particularly municipalities) from
fulfilling the promises of delivering services
Description
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Public
Administration (MPA), in the Faculty of Commerce, Administration & Law at the
University of Zululand, south Africa, 2012.
Keywords
Violence -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Province, Service delivery -- South Africa -- Mpumalanga Province