Rama, Sharmla.Sibanda, Gideon.2022-10-072022-10-0720222022https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/20896Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.This study aims to investigate why the phenomenon of rural poverty and underdevelopment persist despite the various policies, interventions, and programmes to redress problems of the past in South Africa post-1994. The study shows that, amongst others, the vagaries in policy implementation, the adoption of a top-down approach to implementation and inconsistent public participation contribute to the persistence of rural poverty and underdevelopment. The study also raises questions about the extent to which local governments facilitate and encourage public participation in their policymaking, prioritisation, and implementation processes. Public participation is foundational to the process of democratization of society, and sustainable rural development in South Africa cannot happen without the meaningful public participation of people living in rural areas. In addition, there is inadequate and limited analysis and critical review of the rural policy implementation processes and mechanisms of public participation, particularly at local government level. In this qualitative case study (located in Mkhambathini Local Municipality which is rural), in-depth face-to-face interviews were undertaken with seven ward councillors; and focus group discussions with seven-ward committees which consist of ten members each. The verbatim qualitative responses are analysed according to the themes. The findings highlight that the absence of developmentally oriented civil society organisations in rural areas contributes to poor service delivery. Other problems such as the issue of security of tenure, particularly in areas that fall under traditional authorities remain under-addressed. The study recommends that the Ingonyama Trust Act (Act No. 3KZ of 1994) be reviewed to incorporate the issue of land rights of rural people and security of ownership of land in rural KwaZulu-Natal. While this study cannot be conclusive on the issues of implementation of rural development policies and public participation at the local government level, it identifies issues of concern that need to be addressed. These include weak public participation structures, lack of monitoring and evaluation systems, poor coordination of the implementation of rural development programmes at the local government level. The study recommends the establishment of policy coordinating structures in the local rural municipalities to spearhead the rural development agenda. Iqoqa: Lolu cwaningo beluhlose ukucubungula ukuthi kungani inkinga yobubha nokungathuthuki ezindaweni zasemaphandleni iqhubeka ngisho emva kuka-1994 lapha eNingizimu-Afrikha nakuba kukhona izinqubomgomo eziningi nokungenelela okunhlobonhlobo kanye nezinhlelo ezahlukene zokulwa nale nkinga eyadalwa yisimo sombuso wobandlululo. Lolu cwaningo luveza, phakathi kwezinye izinto, izinguquko ezithize ekufezeni izinhloso zezinqubomgomo, ukuthatha izinqumo zisuka phezulu ziya phansi ekufezeni izinhloso zezinqubomgomo kanye nokungazibandakanyi ngokugcwele kwamalungu omphakathi, konke okuba nomthelela ebukhoneni bobubha nokuntuleka kwentuthuko ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Lolu cwaningo luphinde luvuse imibuzo ebalulekile mayelana nebanga elihanjwa ngohulumeni basekhaya ukulawula nokugqugquzela ukuzibandakanya komphakathi ekwakhiweni kwezinqubomgomo, ukuqhakambisa nokufeza izinhloso zayo. Ukuzibandakanya komphakathi kuwumgogodla wentuthuko yomphakathi obuswa yintando yeningi kanti futhi ukuzimela nokuthuthuka kwezindawo zasemaphandleni aseNingizimu-Afrikha ngeke kwenzeke uma umphakathi ungalibambi iqhaza ngokwanele ezinhlelweni zentuthuko ezindaweni ohlala kuzona. Ukwengeza kulokhu, kukhona ukuhlaziya okungagculisi nokuntengayo mayelana nokufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomqomo nokuzibandakanya komphakathi, ikakhulukazi ezingeni likahulumeni wasekhaya. Kulolu cwaningo oluyikhwalithethivu (olugxile kuMasipala wasemaphandleni aseMkhambathini), kwabanjwa izingxoxo ezisakuhleleka zobuso nobuso namakhansela ayisikhombisa nezingxoxo zamaqembu namakomiti amawadi ayisikhombisa ayenamalungu ayishumi iwadi ngayinye. Izimpendulo ezanikezwa ngabahlanganyeli zacashunwa zinjalo zase zihlaziywa ngokwezindikimba. Imiphumela iveze ukuthi ukuntuleka kwezinhlaka zomphakathi ezibhekelene nentuthuko kuletha ukugqoza kwezidingo zomphakathi ezindaweni zasemaphandleni. Ezinye izinkinga ukungabi negunya labahlali lokuba ngabanikazi bomhlaba, okuyinto ebukeka ingasukunyelwa phezulu ezindaweni ezisalawulwa ngamakhosi. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuba umthetho obhekelele ukubuswa kwezindawo zasemakhaya, i-Ingonyama Trust Act (Umthetho we-3KZ ka-1994) uke ucutshungulwe kabusha ukuze ufake ilungelo labantu lokuba nomhlaba othi bona nokuzobanikeza igunya eliphelele lobunikazi bomhlaba ezindaweni zasemaphandleni, KwaZulu-Natali. Nakuba lolu cwaningo lungeke lukuqinisekise ngokuphelele ukufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomgomo kanye nokuzibandakanya komphakathi emazingeni ohulumeni basekhaya, lukwazile ukuveza izinto okusamele zisukunyelwe. Lezi zinto zibala ukugqoza kokuzibandakanya komphakathi ezinhlakeni zentuthuko, ukuntuleka kwezindlela zokuqapha isimo nokusihlaziya nokungaqhutshwa ngokufanele izinhlelo zentuthuko ezingeni likahulumeni wasekhaya. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuba kusungulwe izinhlaka ezizobhekelela ukufezwa kwezinhloso zezinqubomgomo komasipala ezindaweni zasemaphandleni ukuze kube khona intuthuko kulezi zindawo.enRural poverty.Policy implementation.Policy coordinating structures.Thesis