Local development policies in decentralised South Africa

Résumé du document

Apartheid, the policy according to which South Africa was ruled until 1994, proved unable to help the country develop in the new economic frame of globalization. It was based on racial segregation and deprived the majority of the population from basic political and economic freedoms. In 1994, when Nelson MANDELA became the first democratically-elected President of the country, not only did his government have to deal with administrative changes to democracy but also with an increased competition and liberalization in a global economy. Although it was much more modern and profitable than that of other African countries, South African economy suffered from discrepancies that existed between the regions, the rural areas being much poorer than the urban ones, and between people. Various administrative and political reforms took place, leading to a greater decentralization. Following the path of many other countries, both in Europe and in Africa, South Africa chose to make local governments more democratic and to give local authorities more power with respect to economic choicesc

Extraits

[...] The ideas could also be extended as far as agricultural, clothing industry and tourism are concerned argues the author. In order for municipalities to overcome their inability to provide the needed services, many authors[5] praise partnerships, be they public- private, public-public or public-NGOs. Indeed, Municipal Civil Partnership is a government project which includes management contracts, leasing of municipal services, build, operate, train and transfer schemes, and concessions. Based on the idea that local government are not always able to come up with the right solution themselves, it implies that municipalities should outsource, just like firms do. [...]

[...] Vertical coherence implies that the local policies be compatible with regional and national ones. Decentralisation has two main impacts: a political one and an economic one (cf. graphic in the appendix). Politically speaking, it enhances the political awareness and participation of the population, because it feels more directly concerned by local issues than national ones. Letting them elect their local representatives is a good way to make democracy progress. Therefore, the country should be more stable if the population feels listened to by the governments. [...]

[...] Firstly, South Africa decided to make of local governments the actors of local development, but this policy is questionable Local governments as tools to achieve socio-economic development in South Africa 1. The case for decentralisation in a global world: towards economic efficiency It is often argued that the threats posed by globalisation to a country can be avoided by an economic policy to help those touched by the phenomenon. Furthermore, local government can gain more legitimacy by helping fight for a local development in the global economic framework. [...]

[...] This is much more complicated and long to complete, and so no solution may be found very easily Guidelines for the future Sectoral targeting could be an efficient way to reinvent local economic policy. The example of the city of Johannesburg is interesting to understand the lacks of today's system. South Africa's biggest city needs to combat poverty, this is the first objective stated in Johannesburg 2030, a 2001 planning document issued by the city planning unit, aiming at making of Johannesburg a “global city”. What is interesting is that the planning has been made according to several meaning selected sectoral interventions. [...]

[...] National legislation may prevail over provincial legislation in cases where they conflict under certain circumstances, such as the maintenance of national security or economic unity, the protection of the environment, or in matters prejudicial to the interests of another province. Municipalities, which govern on a four-year term basis, run local affairs subject to national and provincial legislation, but the latter may not compromise or impede a municipality's right to exercise its powers or perform its functions. District and local councils are interdependent and involve a division of powers. A district council has municipal executive and legislative authority over a large area, its primary responsibility being district-wide planning and capacity-building. [...]