'Nothing about us, without us : an assessment of public participation in the delivery of RDP houses in the Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pivotal role played by public participation in a social context is often undermined by change agents or administrators of government projects. The role of public participation is documented in Chapter 10 of the Constitution (South Africa, 1996). It states that '… people`s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy making.Besides the Constitution (South Africa, 1996) there are also other legislative frameworks that enshrine the right to public participation. Some of these provisions are included in the White Paper on Local Government (South Africa, 1998c), the White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (South Africa, 1997b), the Integrated Development Plans, and others. It has to be acknowledged that public participation is the fundamental element for the success of development projects geared towards the social upliftment of poor communities.Poor communities, by omission or commission, are often excluded from direct participation in social projects. This study was prompted by the lack of effective public participation in the RDP housing project in the Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality, where the project was used as a case study. Qualitative research methods, well-founded theories and a literature study were used to inform the study. Forty-nine (49) respondents were interviewed.By collecting and interpreting relevant data, the study was able to assess the extent of public participation that had taken place. The study then proceeded to make recommendations as to how the situation could have been handled and to formulate public participation model that would be context relevant to the area.Unfortunately, the Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality housing project is now a thing of the past and cannot be revisited. Fortunately, however, similar projects will be able to learn valuable lessons from this study in the future.Ultimately, the research illustrated that a strategy of comprehensive public participation that includes all project beneficiaries has to be well planned and well managed to promote and ensure the successful implementation of the project.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University