Political Science & Public Administration

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Assessing the implementation of neoliberal policies in the city of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality: challenges of service delivery
(University of Zululand, 2023) Mkhwanazi, Sandile Blessing; Mthethwa, Richard M.
Johannesburg has been strategically critical in South Africa as it has been an economic powerhouse of the country. The economic importance of Johannesburg began during the colonial era, well into apartheid and the democratic era. At the demise of apartheid, South Africa adopted neoliberalism, which eventually amplified colonial and apartheid-era inequalities while thwarting social justice. This study investigates the implementation of neoliberal policies in local government, intending to establish the nexus between neoliberalism as an economical approach with service delivery protests; insecurities linked to protest violence and police brutality; and governance with a specific focus on the townships and informal settlements (urban peripheries), specifically focusing on the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The City of Johannesburg has faced the challenge of protest action against the local government proportionally more often compared to other municipalities. Using a qualitative approach, the primary data was collected via interviews and focus group discussions with officials responsible for implementing policies, residents in the urban peripheries, selected government departments and academic experts, while secondary data was collected through policy documents and a literature survey. The study finds that adopting neoliberalism in local government has increased economic inequality, and that the City of Johannesburg has the highest inequality compared to other municipalities. Although there was resistance in the form of protests against neoliberalism in the early years of democracy, protests changed and were directed towards local government service provision. Further, neoliberalism is associated with creating new peripheries, creating a distinction between the core and peripheries and is thus associated with insecurities from the peripheries. The study recommends improved governance, extensive stakeholder engagement, improved monitoring and evaluation, and a modification of neoliberalism for South Africa.
Examining the influence of civil servant’s embeddedness in the provision of basic services in Msukaligwa Local Municipality
(University of Zululand, 2024) Slabert, Nhlanhla; Mthethwa, R. M.
English This study examined the influence of civil servant’s embeddedness in the provision of basic delivery of services to the communities. The Wesselton community under Msukaligwa Local Municipality in the Gert Sibande District was selected as the case study. The South African Constitution, 1996, Section 10 guarantees everyone the right to human dignity. The standard of living for humans must be respected and safeguarded. Water, better roads, and dwellings under the Rehabilitation Development Programme (RDP) must always be accessible. To safeguard this right, towns offer these services to the citizens. However, not all municipalities are able to distribute basic services successfully and economically. Because of poor distribution of municipal services, the residents live in poor conditions. Moreover, their right to human dignity is exacerbated and violated, which ultimately results in poverty. The Msukaligwa Local Municipality is perceived as an underperforming municipality in the Mpumalanga Province, particularly the Gert Sibande District Municipality. This is attributed to its poor levels of service delivery due to various reasons. This study was undertaken to describe the types of embeddedness at play between the civil servants and the Wesselton local communities in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. This study endeavored to establish the influence of connections and the environment in which civil servants’ function to provide basic services at the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. The study proposed interventions to enhance the delivery of basic service provision to the Wesselton community under the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. Furthermore, the study also examined how civil servants conduct themselves when they execute their daily Data was gathered from both municipal officials and community members to determine motives for the poor delivery of resources. Qualitative investigation methodology was adopted which comprised of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to gather data from the participants, namely, community members, and municipal officials. The study provides recommendations on how to resolve the delivery of poor services in Msukaligwa Local Municipality. These could also be considered by municipalities throughout the country although each municipality, due to its demographics, may experience varying challenges functions of distributing facilities to societies as per the instructions of the South African Constitution of 1996 and according to the Batho Pele principles which advocates that people come first when civil servants provide services. The study further examined the relationship of stakeholders involved in the delivery of services. The stakeholders included civil servants, politicians and the communities whom they are obligated to serve, e.g., the Wesselton community located in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality. The reviewed literature revealed that causes of poor distribution and meeting the needs of the people had frustrated the Wesselton community. Consequently, the community resorted to violent protest action with the hope that the Msukaligwa Local Municipality would be a better choice.
An evaluation of local economic development initiatives towards addressing socioeconomic challenges in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
(University of Zululand, 2024) Xaba, Mzwandile Refuge; Jili-Mbanjwa, N.N
The 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa grants local governments the authority to facilitate social and economic development. Municipalities are mandated to provide services to communities sustainably, promote social and economic growth, and encourage the involvement of the community and private sector in local government affairs. Local economic development, considered within an interdisciplinary context, aims to establish the economic capacity of a local area to enhance its economic future and improve the life quality for all residents. Local economic development has been prioritised as a global socio-economic strategy to direct challenges, such as development, poverty, and unemployment, and to mitigate market failures. This study focused on an evaluation of local economic development initiatives towards addressing socioeconomic challenges in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Local economic development is introduced as an enabling strategy for local social and economic development. Implementing local economic development in South Africa is grounded on legislation as crucial policy documents. Local economic development processes should aim to achieve social and economic equality, ensuring that strategies align with the national local economic development framework. The South African local government encounters significant challenges in achieving development and progress for local communities. These challenges emphasise the current issues confronting the country’s local government system. Local government encounters numerous challenges and constraints resulting from extreme poverty and unemployment rates, a shortage of skills required to propel local economic development, an absence of proper administrative capacity, and unsuccessful policy implementation. This study employed a qualitative approach to collect and analyse data. The data collection method involved semi-structured interviews with officials from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, local economic development champions from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and community members from the Umlazi Township. The participants were chosen because they are responsible for implementing local economic development policies and facilitating the economic development programmes in the Durban region. The data obtained from the participants were analysed using thematic analysis, with the primary aim of collecting relevant information regarding local economic development policies and the facilitation of local economic development programmes. The findings indicate that while local economic development policies and programmes are well-designed in theory, they encounter numerous challenges preventing them from reaching their full potential. Corruption and budget constraints are primary obstacles to these programmes’ successful implementation and facilitation. Institutional challenges, a lack of capacity, insufficient training, and inadequate understanding of local economic development further hinder progress. The study offers several recommendations to direct the issues encountered by current local economic development programmes.
Evaluation of records management practices in the Kwazulu-Natal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, South Africa
(University of Zululand, 2025) Mntungwa, Makhosonke Hanson; Supervisor(s): Prof N.N Jili-Mbanjwa
The major aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate records management practices in the KwaZulu-Natal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to achieve improved records management systems, quality service delivery and good corporate governance. The advent of new technology and fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has introduced new facets in the corporate environment including TVET Colleges in South Africa, thereby promoting the growing interest of TVET Colleges in adopting sustainable digital records management systems. This research study was premised on the hypothesis that both the management of paper-based and electronic records amounts to dissatisfactory and falls short of best recognised records management standards and practice. Thus, the primary research question was whether the extent of adherence to records management programmes, policies and standards in the study area yield the desired outcome, given that an effective records management programme plays a pivotal role in the efficient administration of a service oriented TVET College. To achieve this, a literature review and an empirical investigation were conducted. The study was underpinned by both records’ life cycle and the records continuum model. The study utilised the interpretive research paradigm and adopted qualitative research methodology using case study design. The target population for the study was 151, with 116 respondents of those being purposively selected. Thus, purposive sampling was used to identify the research sample for the study. Using triangulated data collection methods, the researcher employed interview schedule, observation techniques, systems, and document analysis in order to enhance the validity and reliability of the research findings. Data obtained through interviews, observations, systems, and document analysis was analysed in terms of content analysis to derive pivotal themes of the study. The key findings established that the general status of management of records in the TVET Colleges is inadequately positioned to support improved records management systems including, inter alia, insufficient integration of ICT in the management of records, thereby undermining the significant growth of the College on electronic services adoption, risk management processes, strategic planning processes, enhancing quality service delivery, promoting good governance, supporting democratic accountability, fulfilling legal and regulatory requirements, promoting and protecting human rights, and ensuring sound financial management. Although some initiatives have been undertaken to enhance records management practices, the existing practices of the study area require serious improvement to the records management system. Therefore, based on the established empirical findings, it can be concluded that the selected study area does not conform to proper records management practices, thereby undermining good corporate governance, accountability, and quality service delivery in the TVET College arena. Therefore, recommendations and a designed framework (TVET-AMSORT) for managing records in support of improved status quo of TVET Colleges in the study area, have been provided. Moreover, in the endeavour to enhance records management practices in the study area, a proposal for the implementation of the recommendations on a priority basis has also been provided. The study’s contribution to scholarly works and literature in the field of public administration resides in its findings and designed framework that can be practically adopted for management of records in support of enhanced records management systems, quality service delivery and good corporate governance. By establishing the nexus between management of records and adherence to records management programmes, policies, and standards in the study area, it is hoped that the study will provide input to policymakers to consider records managers as key stakeholders in TVET Colleges. The study adds value to the prevailing theoretical and legislative phenomena that form the perpetual discourse on the application of improved records management practices in the TVET sector. However, the researcher could not include other TVET Colleges in South Africa due to time limitations. Thus, other researchers can focus on exploring the study in other research institutions in South Africa.
The influence of social media on e-democracy in respect of governance and service delivery within eThekwini metropolitan municipality
(University of Zululand, 2025) Jiyane, Siphelele E.; Jili-Mbanjwa, N.N
This study investigated the transformative role of social media in fostering e-democracy, focusing on governance and service delivery within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Anchored in theoretical frameworks such as Techno-Optimism, Filter Bubble Theory, Digital Citizenship, Decentralised Participatory Democracy (DPD), and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the research critically evaluates the potential and limitations of social media as a tool for civic engagement, public accountability, and enhanced governance. A mixed-methods approach, anchored on the pragmatism philosophy, was adopted, combining quantitative data from 414 social media users and qualitative insights from 20 municipal officials and 10 political party administrators. The quantitative analysis reveals that 76% of respondents believe social media improves transparency in governance, while 63% consider it an effective tool for holding officials accountable. Conversely, 58% identify misinformation as a major challenge, with 47% reporting exposure to disinformation during significant municipal events. The qualitative data, analysed thematically, underscores the dual role of social media in amplifying public advocacy and potentially exacerbating polarization and echo chambers. The study also highlights the rapid adoption of digital platforms in eThekwini. For example, 52% of residents access the internet via mobile devices, and the municipality has implemented over 90 free public Wi-Fi sites to bridge digital divides. However, challenges persist, including algorithmic biases and limited digital literacy among marginalised groups. The findings emphasize the importance of algorithmic transparency, media literacy initiatives, and robust digital public infrastructure. By integrating participatory tools such as online forums and citizen-driven feedback systems, municipalities like eThekwini can enhance service delivery and strengthen democratic engagement. This research offers actionable recommendations to policymakers, contributing to a deeper understanding of the interplay between social media and governance in the digital age.

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