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Abstract - Local Government Reform in South Africa: The Quest for Review and Repositioning of Municipal Administration
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Abstract: The endemic municipal governance problems experienced since the dawn of the democratic dispensation manifested through the constant dysfunctional state of municipalities, poor financial performance and poor political leadership clearly necessitate that the national government should revisit and review the constitutional powers granted to the sphere of local government and contemplate introducing a pragmatic model of running municipal affairs. This paper argues that there is a need to review and reposition the model of local government in order to ensure that municipalities appropriately fulfil their constitutional obligations. The existing research pointed to the relevance of the application and utilisation of the different categories of municipalities, thereby enabling the effective delivery of services to communities. Therefore, the review will amongst others, entail the critical examination of the interventions spearheaded by the national government namely, the Project Consolidate; Municipal Turnaround Strategy/Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent; Operation Clean Audits-2014 and the recently launched Back-to-Basics approach. Based on literature and document reviews this article concludes that the abovementioned interventions have not yielded the desired results yet, if the current performance of municipalities such as Madibeng, Maquasi-Hills, Lekwa-Teemane, Randfontein, Thaba Chweu, Bushbuckridge and Mtubatuba is anything to go by. The outcomes point to the urgent need for a review of the current model of local government that is utilised within a developing society, which is mired with many developmental challenges. This is relevant because South Africa aims at becoming a capable and developmental state as encapsulated in the NDP (National Development Plan) 2030 and for it to achieve such, municipalities are a critical enabler since they operate at the grassroots level. Keywords: Municipal governance, municipal councils, effective administration, performance of municipalities, professionalised local government. |
Editorial: Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Practices in Developing Countries
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Abstract - The Influence of Legislation and Regulation on Strategy in Public Entities
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Abstract: In terms of prescriptions contained in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, citizens are entitled to, inter alia, the provision of services in a sustainable manner. Citizens are also entitled to the promotion of social and economic development to meet their basic needs. Government designs systems and processes to meet those needs in response to policy goals and objectives as defined in legislation and regulation in the context of the principal-agent approach. Similarly, strategy is needed to devise techniques and plans to meet needs, goals and aspirations of government in the most efficient manner. It is premised on leadership, goal orientation and satisfying a multitude of factors in the process. At face value it would seem that the enactment of certain legislation and regulations appear to render the need for strategy obsolete, especially since there is a proliferation of national, provincial and local policies and strategies that only need implementation. This article reviews the influence of legislation and regulations on strategy in public entities, focusing on a development corporation in the Eastern Cape as a case study. For purposes of data collection a mixed-methods research methodology approach was followed. The article concludes with a proposed normative model to enhance strategy in public entities. Keywords: Strategy comprises of the analysis, development, implementation and monitoring of goals and objectives. |
Abstract - Systems Readiness for Improved Monitoring and Evaluation with Specific Reference to the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Sector in Nigeria
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Abstract: The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) is mandated by law to provide support services and creating conducive business environment that supports the transformation of both small and large scale industries in Nigeria. The FMITI mandate and task is facilitated through its subsidiary, the Small Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). This is against the background that the parastatal will facilitate development (if well supported) by triggering production, employment opportunities and growth. Especially in Nigeria, where the informal sector employs more people than the formal sector, but with declining affluences of micro and small businesses, questions must be asked concerning the effectiveness of the institution’s programmes and policies in revitalising, sustaining as well as growing the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector. In this paper, literature on monitoring and evaluation (M&E), legislative framework linked to the functioning of small and medium business sector is extensively reviewed. Furthermore, this paper will critically evaluate SMEDAN mandate to provide support services that will transform the informal sector of the Nigerian economy using existing monitoring and evaluation systems of selected programmes and policies put in place by the agency to indicate readiness (or lack thereof) of the current system to further develop the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector of the economy. This paper adopts qualitative and quantitative methodologies. It is anticipated that findings from this research-based paper will present lessons which can be harnessed to better reposition monitoring and evaluation systems hence, ensure effectiveness of future programmes and policies that will generate employment opportunities through SMEDAN. Keywords: Monitoring and Evaluation, Systems, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). |
