The extent of public participation in the formulation of the IDP: the case of Beaufort West

Abstract

This study analyses public participation in the formulation of the Integrated Development Planning in the Beaufort West Municipality. The aim of the study is to examine the nature and extent of public involvement in the formulation of the IDP document through the lens of legislative mandatory processes and public views. It looked at the extent to which the public’s view was considered and also focused on the quality of this engagement with citizens. The research has discovered that the municipality is not immune to any challenges faced during community engagement efforts and in its attempt to promote public participation. This process is also often ignored, and no accountability is acknowledged by officials as they sometimes fail in exercising their responsibilities as set out by law against the very precepts of democracy. From the data analysed it is a common supposition that the process rests upon the bureaucratic structures and disregards the integration of many relevant stakeholders. The paper also assessed methods attempted to interrogate strategical priorities, like IDP Reviews, Budget adjustments to develop society if it is undertaken effectively, or are the processes done for the purposes of compliance. It has also recognized that the council members serving in council, conducted themselves more as political party electorates rather than the citizens of the municipality and this act is reflected as a discernment to derail public participation intentions. The research has, to a significant measure, assessed and gave insight into the capacity of the officials to hold meaningful engagements in the ward meetings and their potential in influencing the process effectively. This dissertation made recommendation on how the municipality can adhere to legally sanctioned regulations and upholding equity, as well as promoting competent bureaucracies through empowerment and capacity building to support the development of communities’ initiatives. Transformation in the understanding of public participation as a policy to inform the local government administration rests upon the identification and the resolution of our identified societal problems and the empowerment of citizens to engage meaningfully.