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Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14

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    Exploring the complexities of the relationship between political and administrative interface in Uthukela District Municipality : a systems’ thinking perspective
    (2024-05) Mkhize, Patrick Sibusiso; Hardman, Stan
    Systems theory leverages effective diagnosis and management of the complexities of politicaladministrative interface in the contemporary polycentric local governance systems. It is in that context that this research uses systems theory to evaluate the nature of the complexities of politicaladministrative interface in uThukela District Municipality and its Alfred Duma, Inkosi Langalibalele and Okhahlamba Local Municipalities. Such analysis is aimed to extract a systems model that can be adopted for diagnosing and managing such complexities not only in uThukela District Municipality, but also in the entire South African local governance system. The study is motivated by both practical deficiencies in uThukela District Municipality and its local Municipalities as well as theoretical deficiencies that characterise most of the existing studies on managing complex local governance systems. To therefore, address such practical and theoretical deficiencies, this study uses systems theory to evaluate the nature of the complexities of political-administrative interface vis-a-vis other actors in uThukela District Municipality and its local Municipalities. Through such analysis, the study aimed to identify a comprehensive systems model that can be extracted and suggested to uThukela for diagnosing and managing such complexities. The entire research process is guided by certain six critical research objectives and questions. First research objective and question evaluate and identify the critical political actors and their interactive activities in uThukela District Municipalities. Second research objective and question examine and identify the critical administrative and management actors and their interactive activities in uThukela District Municipalities. Third research objective and question assess and identify the complex networks of the other critical actors that integrate with politicaladministrative interface in uThukela District Municipalities. Fourth research objective and question analyse the complexities that arise from politicaladministrative interface vis-à-vis other actors and their impacts in uThukela District Municipalities. Fifth research objective and question examine the effectiveness of the approaches that are used for managing such complexities in uThukela District Municipalities. Sixth research objective and question sought to identify and extract a systems model that can be adopted for diagnosing and managing such complexities not only in uThukela District Municipalities, but also in the entire South African local governance system. Basing on these six critical research objectives and questions, theories revealed local governance organisations to be analogous to systems that constitute of different internal interactive subsystems and actors that also influence or are instead influenced by certain external actors. Certainly, such theoretical articulations echoed fundamental argument in this research that the use of systems approach would aid effective diagnosis and management of the complexities of politicaladministrative interface vis-à-vis other actors in uThukela District Municipality and its local Municipalities. Primary research was undertaken to analyse, compare and triangulate such theoretical articulations with empirical findings reflecting actual experiences of actual political, administrative and other actors in such complexities. Primary research was based on phenomenological ontology as the research philosophy to elicit practical views from the actual actors or participants in the political-administrative interface vis-à-vis other actors’ complexities in uThukela District Municipalities. Phenomenological ontology dictated the use of case study and exploratory research designs as well as qualitative research method. Qualitative research method entailed the use of interviews as the principal technique to elicit facts in their real natural settings and context. This aided thorough diagnosis and identifications of the points of conflicts and antagonisms in such complexities. Such research ontology, designs and methods were used to elicit views from a sample of thirty participants consisting of mayors, speakers, members executive council committees, oversight committees and all Section 54 and 56 in uThukela District Municipality and its local Municipalities. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews to permit eliciting of new insights from the participants. Obtained qualitative data from each of the thirty participants was thematically analysed. Thematic analysis was used to extract coherent common set of themes, subthemes and their associated narratives that logically and chronologically explain the critical political actors, administrative actors, other actors, such actors’ interactive activities, points of conflicts and antagonisms that induce complexities from such interactive activities. It also extracted themes and narratives on the impacts of such complexities on service delivery and the effectiveness of the approach so far used for managing such complexities. Findings imply that besides political-administrative interface, uThukela District Municipality as a “system” also constitutes of other subsystems that are reflected in the form of Alfred Duma, Inkosi Langalibalele and Okhahlamba Local Municipalities. However, as actors in such political and administrative subsystems interact with each other, they were also found to interact with certain other critical actors like certain community activists as well as business actors. To mitigate and manage these complexities of political-administrative, uThukela District Municipality was found to emphasise prohibiting political office-holders from holding municipal administrative offices and enforcement of councillors’ Code of Conduct to prevent their interference in municipal administration. Other measures were reiterated to include suggestion for abolition of speaker’s office, streamlining relationship between the mayor and municipal manager and use of relevant laws to manage collusions leading to corruption. To deal with such complexities, this study triangulated findings with theories to extract and suggest a systems model that can be adopted to comprehensively diagnose and manage the complexities of political-administrative interface vis-à-vis other actors in uThukela District and its local Municipalities. It is argued in that systems model that effective diagnosis and management of the complexities of political-administrative interface would require the application of certain six critical steps. In otherwords, the study not only suggested a systems model that can be emulated by uThukela District Municipality and its local Municipalities, but also by the entire South African local governance system. Even though through such systems model, this research enriched the existing theories on public administration and management, future studies must still assess how such a model can be scientifically tested using confirmatory factor analysis.
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    Monitoring and evaluation on the performance of local government in South Africa: insight from selected district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal
    (2023) Mabizela, Hlengiwe Nomzamo; Zwane, Zwelithini Mangethe
    The poor quality of service delivery in South African municipalities has been documented in numerous studies. The lack of appropriate monitoring and evaluation and complete disregard of adherence to processes and procedures in terms the provisions of legislations such as the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 are two of the main causes of poor service delivery. Poor performance as a result, has been noted in municipalities across South Africa. UThukela, Amajuba, and uMgungundlovu district municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal were used as case studies in this research to examine the effect of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) on the performance of municipalities in South Africa. Municipal employees within Performance Management Systems unit (PMS) and Corporate Services unit made up the target population of the research study. The sample consisted of 20 participants, with 10 from the uThukela district municipality, 2 from the Amajuba district municipality, and 8 from the uMgungundlovu district municipality. The research adopted a qualitative approach and followed a purposive sampling method to identify key respondents based on their expertise and understanding of the research issue. Data collection involved conducting focus group discussions with the selected participants. The collected data were analysed using the NVivo software programme, wherein data was categorised into themes and coded for the presentation of findings and discussion of the results. Consent was obtained from participants through the gatekeeper letters and the signing of consent forms. The main goal of the research was to contribute to the body of knowledge while identifying alternate M&E methods that the municipalities can adopt in their key functions to improve performance and service delivery. The study analysed the effects of M&E on the performance of local government, and the models and systems utilised by municipalities to conduct M&E. It further interrogated challenges associated with M&E within the identified municipalities and the contributions of M&E towards improving performance and effective service delivery. According to the findings, M&E in local government have been challenging as a result of the absence of comprehensive M&E systems, capacity and resources. This is one of the factors that contribute to lack of service delivery and poor performance. Weak M&E systems and practices add to municipal failure to achieve their constitutional mandate of service delivery and enhanced performance. Thus, the research reveals that M&E is essential to ensure that local government responds to the needs and demands of the people and enhances municipal performance. Admittedly, there is no single approach to resolve these challenges contronting municipalities, however, M&E can provide the conditions for increased and sustained performance. To realise the goal of improving M&E within local government, the research suggests that municipalities should institutionalise M&E through prioritising and embracing M&E as a crucial instrument for facilitating results-based progressive local government. Municipalities should encourage mandatory compliance with the systems and procedures, adopt information technology systems to advance and strengthen the application of M&E, and adopt approaches such as participatory M&E to evaluate the impact of its functions and development initiatives.