Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the nature and problems for developmental local governance to promote the sustainability of communities and cities in metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. Undeniably, urban governance has far-reaching consequences for local governance because urban population will continue to grow over time. Importantly, migration to urban areas can be expected to skyrocket as economies grow and cities provide more opportunities for the landless poor in the hope of finding employment. According to the National Development Plan (NDP) (National Planning Commission (NPC) 2012:260), “by 2030 South Africa should observe meaningful and measureable progress in reviving rural areas and in creating more functionally integrated, balanced and vibrant urban settlements”. The dual guiding research question of the thesis encapsulated the problem: What is the essence of the nature and challenges of good developmental urban local governance and how can innovative strategies promote the sustainable development of communities and cities in South Africa?
The thesis provided a broad systematic conceptualization and contextualization of developmental and sustainable good local governance, urban resilience, new city governance and ‘smart cities’, the regulatory and institutional framework defining and regulating local governance and the theories and theoretical approaches underpinning developmental and sustainable local/urban governance. The emphasis of the thesis is placed on the functioning, problems, challenges and pressures of the sphere urban of local governance (within its constituent structures i.e. metropolitan municipalities) within given regulatory and structural parameters.
This enquiry is premised on the view that in studying urban governance and implementation in general, and in South Africa in particular, specific factors, and structural and regulatory parameters have a profound effect on the sustainability of metros that should be taken into account. In the light of the above argument, the overarching perspective in which this study was grounded was that of a documentary and conceptual analysis using qualitative research techniques to explore and analyse the specific requirements that are set for the service delivery needs of the citizens in...