Abstract
Abstract : Local government has a responsibility to ensure that service is provided to the communities in a sustainable manner. How local government delivers recreational services to address community needs and preferences requires a model that managers could reflect on to assist in ensuring that as many people as possible participate in recreational services at recreation centres. The theoretical lenses used for this study was Systems Theory. The theory ascertained constructs and propositions that presented social realities (ontology) and validated evidence (epistemology). The literature explored key elements, current trends and priorities that systematically impacted positively on recreation services. These key elements were embedded in the macro, market and micro environments. Mixed methodology design (quantitative and qualitative) was used to expand the depth and breadth of findings. Questionnaires and guidelines were formulated from literature reviewed and used as instruments to draw information from respondents. The questionnaire for community household focused on understanding community demographics, access to recreation centres, reasons for participation, barriers, preferred activities and channels of communication. The questionnaire for facility managers concentrated on organisational effectiveness, management, maintenance and support provided by stakeholders. Guidelines for consumers provided an informative picture of how consumers perceived recreation service delivered at their respective recreation centres. The map detailing Soweto and recreation centres were obtained from the City of Johannesburg. The map was divided into four (n=4) geographical sections, north, east, south and west. In each geographical area, recreation centres (n=2) were randomly drawn. The total sample consisted of recreation centres(n=8), facility managers (n=8) of sampled recreation centres, consumers (n=55) of services offered at recreation centres and households (n=405) which were within a 2km radius of a sampled recreation centre. v Quantitative data collected from the community was analysed by STATKOM of the University of Johannesburg using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 Software Program, while data collected from facility managers was analysed by the researcher using Microsoft Excel 2003. Qualitative data collected from consumers was transcribed, coded, categorised and analysed by the researcher assisted by an expect in the field. Face validity, content validity and reliability test were conducted with the assistance of peers within the recreation sector and expects. This study was ethically approved by the University of Johannesburg, Faculty of Health Sciences and the Academic Ethics Committee. Permission was obtained from the COJ and respondents consented. Results obtained from the consumer’s focus groups sessions (qualitative) assisted to complement data results from community and facility managers (quantitative) by outlining matters that needed additional elaborations. Key findings were that macro environments, market environments and micro environments embedded at least thirty one key elements that anchored a sustainable recreation service delivery model which could assist the City of Johannesburg to sustain recreation services in Soweto. The City of Johannesburg need to pay attention to these key elements Recommendations were that for a model to be sustainable, the macro environments should be seriously considered due to its influence and impact on service delivery. Market environments need to be seriously considered because legitimacy of service in matters of local government is determined by the market. Micro environments needed to be improved substantially so that internal organisation processes can effectively enable resources to be converted to maximise the delivery outputs (frequency of participation in recreation programmes, offering of preferred activities and improving service quality). The conclusion drawn was that a sustainable recreation service delivery model was developed.
D.Phil. (Sport Management)