An evaluation of political participation by coloured people, 1994-2009
- Authors: Bloemiers, Gary
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Colored people (South Africa) , Political participation , Racially mixed people -- South Africa , Apartheid -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8184 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008078 , Colored people (South Africa) , Political participation , Racially mixed people -- South Africa , Apartheid -- South Africa
- Description: The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the level of political participation of Coloured people in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth. The focus was to investigate and identify if political apathy exists among Coloureds in the northern areas of Port Elizabeth and the reasons thereof, if it existed. The northern area of Port Elizabeth is a historically Coloured area created with the imposition of the segregation policies of the apartheid government. The study attempted to explore means to improve political participation of Coloured people in Port Elizabeth. Coloured people have played an important role in the political landscape in South Africa during the colonial and apartheid period. The voting power of the Coloured people during the colonial and apartheid period have been a determining factor in shaping the political landscape. The study commences with a broad overview of the political participation and political identity of Coloured people during the colonial and apartheid periods, including the current political dispensation. The study also included the analysis of secondary information in the form of statistical data in respect of election results from the 1999 elections through to the 2009 national elections. Data was collected by using qualitative and quantitative methods referred to as methodological triangulation. The qualitative method comprised face-to-face semi-structured interviews with political and community leaders in the northern areas that gained information on the levels of political participation and the extent of political disengagement. The quantitative method included a questionnaire that established views of respondents regarding levels of political participation and apathy to determine the levels of political disengagement. The interviews elicited valuable information on political participation of Coloured people before and after 1994. Information was also gained on the existence and the reasons for the perceived political apathy. Valuable insight was gained as to how Coloured people view the importance of political participation and the results indicated the limited participation beyond elections. Recommendations are made on the importance of civil society participation, the visibility of political parties and the importance of political education and how it can contribute to increased political participation.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An examination of public participation in decision-making within the IDP processes with reference to Mhlontlo Local Municipality
- Authors: Pule, Banguxolo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Public administration -- Decision making -- Citizen participation , Local governmen -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Citizen participation , Political participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9154 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019746
- Description: Public Participation is widely accepted as a way to strengthen the pillars of democratic and accountable governance. In South Africa, public participation is receiving prominence and increasing attention especially at local government level as this level is regarded as the sphere of government closest to the people. The new democratic government in South Africa regards public participation as a cornerstone of democracy. Ackerman (2004:448) asserts that the opening up of the core activities of the state to societal participation is one of the most effective ways to improve accountability and governance. Such accountability and involvement can be better achieved when communities are part of decision making processes in their communities. In South Africa, public participation was heralded by various pieces of legislations which obligated the public to participate and have a say in the decisions taken by their communities. Section 152 of the constitution: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No 108 of 1996) requires local authority to “encourage the involvement of local communities and community organizations in matters of local government” Informed by the broad principles of the Constitution, the White Paper on Local Government 1998 introduced the notion of developmental local government. According to this Paper, “developmental local government is defined as local government that is committed to working with citizens and groups within the community to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and improve the quality of their lives”. It is through the process of public participation that citizens are given the opportunity to provide input and partake in decision making on service delivery and governance matters of their municipalities. It is widely acknowledged that active public participation is evidence of deepened democracy and can assist municipalities in i) enhancing service delivery ii) making government and officials more effective and accountable and most importantly involve the communities in decisions affecting their lives and communities. By and large, community involvement through public participatory systems ensures that municipalities incorporate the developmental needs of the people. Theseneeds are expressed and consolidated in municipal integrated development plans. To realise the above, the White Paper on Local Government 1998 suggests that “municipalities should develop mechanisms to ensure citizen participation in policy initiation and formulation, and the 3 monitoring and evaluation of decision-making and implementation”. As outlined above various laws gave a new meaning and a legitimised mandate to the role of local communities in the development of their communities. Informed by the above, this study examines the extent to which public participation influences decision making within the IDP processes and by association its impact on service delivery. This study is premised on the widely accepted view that public participation is a process involving the community or the public to gather opinions, investigate the needs, desires and wishes of the local community and to ensure that they as the community are involved in the decision making processes of their municipality. The study is of the view that the IDP processes represent a structured vehicle to enable citizens and groups to influence decision making through institutionalised municipal participatory structures. By so doing, the public and the government form a pact/partnership to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the community receive priority in the IDP processes.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Human agency and development: re-politicizing human development
- Authors: Ncube, Moreblessings
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Political participation , Communities , Agent (Philosophy)
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26291 , vital:65235
- Description: This thesis presents a value-laden understanding of development that acknowledges that development is human centered. The study re-emphasizes that human development which has become a powerful element of current development discourse is not just a social, economic and technological challenge; it is also an institutional and political challenge. The study therefore analyzes the notion of human development with the intention of improving it by placing more emphasis on the aspect of politics and human agency (the ability to act and be an agent of one‘s life). Politics here is understood beyond its usual institutional focus or identification with government, politicians and parliaments to include a much wider and much more important and dynamic range of activities found in all human groups such as institutions and societies. The study then demonstrates that since development is a process, individuals need to work collectively towards a common good so as to realize their development potential. This means creating a confederation of development where governments, citizens and non-governmental organizations work in partnership guided by a culture of collectiveness (civic culture) in order to produce more empowered citizens. The major argument in this study is the concern for citizens to effectively participate in areas that affect and impact on their lives and consequently be in a position to hold accountable institutions that affect their decision making capabilities. Hence human agency in this study signifies and can be justified as an important aspect of the process of participation leading to empowerment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2008
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- Date Issued: 2008
Human agency and development: re-politicizing human development
- Authors: Ncube, Moreblessings
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Political participation , Agent (Philosophy) , Citizenship
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26625 , vital:65680
- Description: This thesis presents a value-laden understanding of development that acknowledges that development is human centered. The study re-emphasizes that human development which has become a powerful element of current development discourse is not just a social, economic and technological challenge; it is also an institutional and political challenge. The study therefore analyzes the notion of human development with the intention of improving it by placing more emphasis on the aspect of politics and human agency the ability to act and be an agent of ones life. Politics here is understood beyond its usual institutional focus or identification with government, politicians and parliaments to include a much wider and much more important and dynamic range of activities found in all human groups such as institutions and societies. The study then demonstrates that since development is a process, individuals need to work collectively towards a common good so as to realize their development potential. This means creating a confederation of development where governments, citizens and non-governmental organizations work in partnership guided by a culture of collectiveness civic culture in order to produce more empowered citizens. The major argument in this study is the concern for citizens to effectively participate in areas that affect and impact on their lives and consequently be in a position to hold accountable institutions that affect their decision making capabilities. Hence human agency in this study signifies and can be justified as an important aspect of the process of participation leading to empowerment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2008
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- Date Issued: 2008
Human agency and development: re-politicizing human development
- Authors: Ncube, Moreblessings
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Political participation , Agent (Philosophy) , Communities
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/29100 , vital:76641
- Description: This thesis presents a value-laden understanding of development that acknowledges that development is human centered. The study re-emphasizes that human development which has become a powerful element of current development discourse is not just a social, economic and technological challenge; it is also an institutional and political challenge. The study therefore analyzes the notion of human development with the intention of improving it by placing more emphasis on the aspect of politics and human agency (the ability to act and be an agent of one‘s life). Politics here is understood beyond its usual institutional focus or identification with government, politicians and parliaments to include a much wider and much more important and dynamic range of activities found in all human groups such as institutions and societies. The study then demonstrates that since development is a process, individuals need to work collectively towards a common good so as to realize their development potential. This means creating a confederation of development where governments, citizens and non-governmental organizations work in partnership guided by a culture of collectiveness (civic culture) in order to produce more empowered citizens. The major argument in this study is the concern for citizens to effectively participate in areas that affect and impact on their lives and consequently be in a position to hold accountable institutions that affect their decision making capabilities. Hence human agency in this study signifies and can be justified as an important aspect of the process of participation leading to empowerment. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce , 2008
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- Date Issued: 2008
Voluntary associations as schools for democracy? : a case study of the Sibanye Development Project
- Authors: Siwahla, Lindiwe Lillian
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004778 , Sibanye Development Project , Non-governmental organizations , Political participation , Non-governmental organizations--South Africa
- Description: This is an empirical study of a voluntary association with a view to interrogate the theories of civil society and participation and their practice. These theories came to dominate debate on African politics and democratisation following disappointment with structural approaches to development and democracy. Disenchantment with the state whose role was emphasised by the structural approach led analysts and technocrats to turn their attention to human agency; hence the salience of the idea of popular participation in the public domain, and preoccupation with the idea of strengthening civil society. This trend gained momentum after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall and demise of the communist block, and was accompanied by anti-statist sentiments on a global scale. Civil society organisations are seen as schools for democracy and agents of democratic consolidation, and are accordingly expected to perform two major tasks, namely instilling and disseminating a democratic political culture in and among participants and society at large, and promoting good governance. The aim therefore is to take advantage of the supposed intrinsic and utilitarian benefits of participation. As evident in a number of policy documents and legislation, the incumbent South African government embraces the idea of participatory democracy. However, not all analysts share this confidence in the capacity of civil society to perform these tasks. For some analysts public participation does not always have positive intrinsic benefits. Public participation may instead lead to a corrupted political culture deriving from the participants' attempts to survive in a public sphere characterised by manipulation and subtle political control, and it is civil society organisations lacking in organisational strength that are particularly vulnerable. The study revealed that unity between practice and theories of participation and civil society is a complex matter fraught with a number of ambiguities and contradictions. It revealed that though participation in the voluntary association in question does have educative benefits, those benefits do not extend to all the participants. In addition, the quality of that education is contingent upon a number of factors, some internal, others external. The internal and external factors reinforce one another. The internal factors pertain to the organisational dynamics of the voluntary association itself, and the external factors to the nature of the relationship between the voluntary association concerned and public authorities and other civil society organisations. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
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- Date Issued: 2002