GOVERNANCE AS A TOOL FOR FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES. CASE STUDY: EKURHULENI, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Several South African cities are faced with challenges of rapid urbanisation, overpopulation, spatial inequalities, and poor service delivery. The greatest challenge facing South African municipalities is providing efficient and quality service delivery to their citizens. The challenges facing the municipalities include service delivery backlogs, the lack of proper governance, institutional weaknesses, maladministration, and corruption. These fundamental issues have a negative impact on the community as poor service delivery has a direct effect on livelihoods. In this study, the researcher has shown that good governance is a huge obstacle in South Africa, which obstructs the efforts of addressing inequalities associated with poverty. While government has designed numerous policies to address the developmental deficit, it has been found wanting in terms of the proper implementation of its policies and its assessment of their impact on communities. The study has established that there is a need for a continuous process to plan and design sustainable policies that will drive development in the city of Ekurhuleni. Policies that will integrate city planning to ensure that development is guided by a smart city design, spatial inclusiveness and sustainable development. The findings of this study show that good governance is a critical requirement to ensure high standards of development and making a meaningful impact on the lives of those who are in dire need of escaping poverty. Therefore, the city of Ekurhuleni bears a great responsibility of designing a smart and sustainable urban development program which will be comprehensive in addressing the various spatial and urban development challenges.