https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/20 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 16:18:45 GMT 2026-04-05T16:18:45Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/781 Title: Whither responsive and responsible local governance? Authors: Manyaka, Rasodi Khutšo. Abstract: The local government is the coalface of public governance and development in South Africa according to the 1996 Constitution. It is the part of government that is closest to even the most marginalised people in society, affecting them by how it provides their basic necessities such as water, electricity and social relief. it is the sphere of government that is expected to be responsive to society's needs almost by design. The key question that arises is: What exactly does a responsive local governance entail? it is imperative to highlight, for reasons of context, that this question is asked specifically because the extent to which municipalities are responsive to the needs of their communities is considered critical for the realisation of the objectives of a developmental mandate. The idea that responsive governance cannot be achieved without municipalities fostering active engagements and interactions as well as mutual cooperation with the communities that they serve. This chapter discusses this and identifies what responsible local government entails and echoes some of the points made in previous chapters as far as these relate to responsiveness. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/781 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/780 Title: Analysing the effectiveness of a water services authority: the case of Modimolle-Mookgopong local municipality. Authors: Seema, Tumelo C.; Maleka, Mogotsi C.; Molepo, Ntshaupe John. Abstract: This study analyses the effectiveness of a Water Services Authority (WSA) in delivering its water supply mandate. Based on an investigation of the phenomenon of water supply, the study employed a qualitative design to understand the context of how effective the Modimolle-Mookgopong Local Municipality (MMLM) is in delivering water to its community members. Using primary and secondary literature, it was established that MMLM is faced with several service delivery challenges related to delivering water. Although the local government has the primary constitutional obligation to deliver basic services such as water provisioning, the national and provincial governments must play a significant role in supporting the municipalities such as MMLM to fulfill their service delivery obligations. However, according to the study findings, most of the challenges that the MMLM is facing are not linked to the water service authority per se, rather they are more community based and require interventions at a community level. Challenges such as theft, vandalism, pollution, population growth, and illegal connections. It appears there is a need for community mobilisation programmes in MMLM to deal with such problems that are not directly linked to the water service authority. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/780 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/779 Title: South Africa's municipal planning and implementation in the context of Covid-19 pandemic: challenges and prospects. Authors: Makalela, Kagiso Innocent.; Molepo, Ntshaupe John. Abstract: This article aims to evaluate the planning and implementation of municipal programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. South Africa's post-apartheid government entrusted the planning and implementation of its multifaceted delivery of services at the municipal level. it is prevalent that almost all South African municipalities are still plagued by a plethora of challenges pertaining to service delivery. Moreover, the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to negatively affect municipal plans and implementation. it is pragmatically evident that in many parts of the country, the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented socio-economic and governance conundrums reverberating across various municipalities. the article argues that the implementation of the national state of disaster declaration due to Covid-19 resulted in municipal planning fragmentation, and perpetuated service delivery backlogs in many municipalities. the local sphere of government remains an important role player in ensuring the effective delivery of services and basic infrastructures.The developmental role accorded to local government requires adequate administrative capacity and implementation of sound strategic tools. However, almost all South African municipalities had difficulty primarily in delivering expected services to service delivery beneficiaries because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The advent of Covid-19 propagated unrelenting and ineffective planning and implementation at the local level. To this end, the Covid-19 protocols and regulations contributed deleteriously to planning and implementation fragments. Important to note., this article follows a conceptual approach using literature to substantiate the argument. The article concludes by proposing crises-driven innovation and measures to ameliorate planning and implementation conundrums at the local level amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/779 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/564 Title: African naming system: a case of the Bapedi community in South Africa. Authors: Mokgoatšana, Sekgothe.; Mapadimeng, Mokong Simon. Editors: Mapadimeng, Mokong Simon. Abstract: No abstract available Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://openscholar.ump.ac.za/handle/20.500.12714/564 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z