Issues of developmental states : Integrated Development Plans and capacity in the Amathole District Municipality of South Africa

Abstract

The successes of the East Asian Tigers in constructing developmental states have become a prototype for developing countries in building their own models for social and economic development. This research study investigates the challenges that face developing countries such as South Africa in creating their own developmental state. The 2011National Development Plan set out the intention to transform South Africa into a capable and developmental state that can intervene to correct historical inequities. For this reason the local sphere of government plays a significant role in enhancing social and economic development in South Africa. This research study pays particular attention to the Amathole District Municipality. It is impossible to discuss the notion of a developmental state and state intervention without analysing the policies that the post-apartheid government introduced in South Africa since the dawn of the democratic dispensation in 1994. The research will study the RDP, GEAR, ASGISA and JIPSA macro-economic policies that were introduced after 1994 to redress inequalities and promote socio-economic development in South Africa. In spite of the achievements in improving the lives of South African communities by providing greater access to water and sanitation, housing and public health care to a larger number of citizens from various backgrounds, South African municipalities are faced with ever-increasing backlogs and a dissatisfied citizenry that have turned to municipal protests to raise their concerns. Given the structure of the South African economy, harsh poverty and inequalities that have plagued South African communities for decades, it is of significance to assess the challenges that local government faces in implementing policy that will successfully progress socio-economic development and make the developmental state vision feasible in South Africa. This research study concentrates on the varying capacity challenges in previously marginalised South African municipalities that often hinder efficient implementation of policy such as the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The National Capacity Building Framework for Local Government is utilised in this research study to assess whether the Amathole District Municipality is capable of implementing the IDP that will realise a developmental state in South Africa. The purpose of this study is to analyse the capacity that the Amathole District Municipality has to implement sound Integrated Development Plans and identify the obstacles that affect its ability to implement policy with a view to providing recommendations that will assist the municipality and other South African municipalities improve policy implementation. The 5-C Policy Implementation Protocol Model will be utilised in the research study.