Optimalisering van gemeenskapsdeelname in geintegreerde ontwikkelingsbeplanning : 'n Wellington-gevallestudie

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:South Africans are familiar with apartheid principles and practices. Apartheidprinciples were not only used as a mechanism that robbed people of theirhuman rights, but it also gave rise to limited or no community participation ingovernment decision-making. South Africa's democratic regime (after 1994) isstriving to increase community participation in government decision-making.In this regard, the South African national government is initiating communitydevelopment policies and programmes such as the Reconstruction andDevelopment Programme (1994), Masakhane programme (1998) andIntegrated Development Planning (1997).This research focuses on Integrated Development Planning (lOP) and localgovernment's role in stimulating community participation. Various participationmodels are highlighted, and the Wellington case is used to illustrate thatcommunities will participate optimally in development activities if theirparticipation will bring about their own empowerment.The research methodology includes interviews, television news programmes,newspaper articles and focus group sessions. Responses from the focusgroup interviews indicated that the community is easy-going and they expectactivities to be undertaken for them. It was also noted that meaningfulmechanisms for enhancinq community participation are limited. Thecommunity-empowerment model and recommendations are presented tooptimise community participation. The following recommendations are made,namely accessibility of development initiatives, mobilising the community,relevant administrative skills of public officials, democratic constitution andlegislation, concrete policy relating to community participation, meaningfulempowerment of the community, explaining the content of concepts,programmes and projects, training for public officials, awareness of policyimplications with regards to community participation and municipal planning inco-operative government.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University