Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anchoring Participatory Communication in South Africa’s Municipal Citizen Participation During Integrated Development Planning (IDP) Processes

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Strategic Communication Management for Development and Social Change

  • 62 Accesses

Abstract

Despite the fact that the South African government has legislative guidelines to guarantee that local citizens have a say in defining a local social change and development agenda, through citizen participation processes across all municipalities; several studies contend that although there is some degree of mass consultations taking place across South Africa’s municipalities in the name of community participation, there are cases where there is no genuine citizen participation in several municipalities where citizens are mere ratifiers of pre-planned development interests of municipal authorities. What is glaringly obvious is that in practice, the facilitative nature of communication in municipal public participation processes remains unrecognised even though, from a communication perspective, dialogic and anti-dialogic actions and their relationship to participation outcomes are inherently central to citizen participation. Through the exploration of participation, where participation is deconstructed through the employment of, for instance, Tufte and Mefalopulos’ (2009) typology; we can evaluate participatory processes and determine if there is passive participation, on the one hand, or active/empowered participation on the other. To this end, this chapter advances the need to explore citizen participation processes in local government, from the vantage point of participatory communication, which helps us to study this facilitative nature of participation. This is an area that remains severely underexplored, especially in the research domains of public administration and local government studies, development studies, and political sciences, especially in instances where citizen participation in local government is the subject of research interest and scrutiny.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akinboade, O. A., Mokwena, M. P., & Kinfack, E. C. (2013). Understanding citizens’ participation in service delivery protests in South Africa’s Sedibeng district municipality. International Journal of Social Economics, 40(5), 458–478. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068291311315331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akinboade, O. A., Mokwena, M. P., & Kinfack, E. C. (2014). Protesting for improved public service delivery in South Africa’s Sedibeng District. Social Indicators Research, 119, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0377-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akinyemi, S. A. (2020). Understanding Factors that Increase Citizen’s Participation in Community Development Projects in Lagos, Nigeria. Doctoral thesis, Florida State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auriacombe, C. J., & Sithomola, T. (2020). The use of participatory action research in a participative democracy: In critique of mechanisms for citizen participation. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanity Studies, 12(1), 50–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barranquero, A. (2011). Rediscovering the Latin American roots of participatory communication for social change. Westminster Papers in Communication and Culture, 8(1), 154–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biljohn, M. I. (2020). Developing the participatory capacity of south African citizens in municipal service delivery through social innovation. Politeia, 38(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8845/3456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buber, M. 1937. I and Thou. Translated from the German by Ronald Gregor Smith. Edinburg: T. & T. Clark

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabannes, Y., & Lipietz, B. (2018). Revisiting the democratic promise of participatory budgeting in light of competing political, good governance and technocratic logistics. Environment & Urbanization, 30(1), 67–84. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956247817746279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chikerema, A. F. (2013). Citizen participation and local democracy in Zimbabwean local government system. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 13(2), 87–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, R. T. (2019). Decentralization Policy and Community Participation in Government: The Case of Liberia. Doctoral thesis, Walden University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall, A. (2010). Introductory overview- buzzwords and fuzzwords: Deconstructing development discourse. In A. Cornwall & D. Eade (Eds.), Deconstructing development discourse buzzwords and Fuzzwords (pp. 1–18). Practical Action Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dlamini, B., & Reddy, P. S. (2018). Theory and practice of integrated development planning: A case study of Umtshezi local municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. African Journal of Public Affairs, 10(1), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eversole, R. (2003). Managing the pitfalls of participatory development: Some insight from Australia. World Development, 31(5), 781–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(03)00018-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fashoro, I., & Bardnard, L. (2021). Assessing south African Government’s use of social Media for Citizen Participation. The African Journal of Information Systems, 13(1), 58–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed: 30th anniversary edition, with an introduction by Donaldo Macedo. Translated from Portuguese by Myra Bergman Ramos. Continuum International Publishing Group Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, M. (2008). Foucault, power and participation. The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 16, 395–406. https://doi.org/10.1163/157181808X311222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1984). The Theory of Communicative action, Volume Two: Lifeworld and Systems: A Critique of Functionalist Reason. Translated from the German by Thomas McCarthy. Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, W. E. (2004). Improving citizen participation in local government in Latin America through international cooperation: A case study. Development in Practice, 14(5), 619–632. https://doi.org/10.1080/0961452042000239779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilliard, V. G., & Kemp, N. D. (1999). Citizen participation indispensable to sustainable democratic governance and administration in South Africa. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 65(3), 353–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobololo, T. S., & Mawela, T. (2017). Exploring the use of Mobile phones for public participation in the Buffalo City metropolitan municipality. AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, 9(1), 57–68. https://doi.org/10.7160/aol.2017.090105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hove, C., & Osunkunle, O. O. (2020). Participatory water conservation education on social media in Amathole District local municipalities, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Information Development, 36(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666919835905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, W., & Feeney, M. K. (2016). Citizen participation in local government decision making: The role of manager motivation. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 36(2), 188–209. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X15576410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huesca, R. (2008). Tracing the history of participatory communication approaches to development: A critical appraisal. In J. Servaes (Ed.), Communication for development and social change (pp. 180–198). Sage.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ingrams, A., & Schachter, H. L. 2019. E-participation Opportunities and the Ambiguous Role of Corruption: A Model of Municipal Responsiveness to Sociopolitical Factors. Public Administration Review, 79(4), 601–611. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13049.

  • Jenlink, P. M., & Banathy, B. H. (2005). Dialogue: Conversation as culture creating and consciousness evolving. In B. H. Banathy & P. M. Jenlink (Eds.), Dialogue as a means of collective communication (pp. 3–15). Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kanyane, M., Mutema, E. P., & Zikhali, T. (2020). Social accountability in local government: Lessons from Vuwani (South Africa) and Gweru (Zimbabwe). Journal of Public Affairs, 22(2581), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa2581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinyondo, A., & Pelizzo, R. (2019). Enhancing citizen participation for development in Tanzania. Otoritas: Journal Ilmu Pemerintahan, 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.26618/ojip.v9i1.1461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leal, P. A. (2007). Participation: The ascendancy of a buzzword in the neo-liberal era. In A. Cornwall & D. Eade (Eds.), Deconstructing development discourse buzzwords and Fuzzwords (pp. 89–100). Practical Action Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lie, R., & Servaes, J. (2015). Disciplines in the field of communication for development and social change. Communication Theory, 25, 244–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12065

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madumo, O. S. (2014). Fostering effective service delivery through public participation: A South African local government perspective. Administratio Publica, 22(3), 130–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manyozo, L. (2006). Manifesto for development communication: Nora Quebral and the Los Baňos School of Development Communication. Asian Journal of Communication, 16(1), 79–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/01292980500467632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayekiso, T., Taylor, D., & Maphazi, N. (2013). A public participation model for enhanced local governance. Africa Insight, 42(4), 186–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melkote, S., & Steeves, H. L. (2015a). Place and role of development communication in directed social change: A review of the field. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 10(3), 385–402. https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2015.1050030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melkote, S., & Steeves, L. (2015b). Communication for development: Theory and practice for empowerment and social change (3rd ed.). Sage Publications India Pvt Ltd..

    Google Scholar 

  • Molale, T. B. (2014). The extent of participatory communication in the IDP (Integrated development plan) context of the Jouberton township of the Matlosana local municipality. NWU (Dissertation, MA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Molale, T. (2019). Participatory communication in South African municipal government: Matlosana local municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) processes. Communicare, 38(1), 57–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molale, T. B. (2021). A framework for participatory communication in the IDP context of Ward 31 in Rustenburg local municipality. NWU (PhD thesis).

    Google Scholar 

  • Molale, T., & Fourie, L. (2022). A six-step framework for participatory communication and institutionalized participation in South Africa’s municipal IDP processes. Development in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2022.2104810

  • Msibi, F., & Penzhorn, C. (2010). Participatory communication for local government in South Africa: a study of the Kungwini Local Municipality. Information Development, 26(3), 225–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muturi, N., & Mwangi, S. (2009). The theory and practice gap in participatory communication: A Caribbean case study. The Journal of International Communication, 15(1), 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/13216597.2009.9674745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naidoo, C., & Ramphal, R. R. (2018). The factors that affect public participation for effective municipal service delivery: A case of Ward committees. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 29(4), 82–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyahambi, A. M., & Chang’a, H. H. (2020). Social accountability monitoring as an approach to promoting active citizenship in Tanzania. In K. Holma & T. Kontinen (Eds.), Practices of citizenship in East Africa: Perspectives from philosophical pragmatism (pp. 209–226). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nxumalo, M., & Matsiliza, N. S. (2020). An analysis of youth participation in local economic development at uPhongolo local municipality. Journal of Public Administration, 55(3), 385–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otto, H., & Fourie, L. M. (2009). Communicative action: The Habermasian and Freirean dialogical approach to participatory communication for social change in a post-1994 South Africa. Koers, 74(1 & 2), 217–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otto, H., & Fourie, L. M. (2016). Theorising participation as action for development and social change. Communicare, 35(1), 21–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieterse, J. N. (1998). My paradigm or yours? Alternative development, post-development, reflexive development. Development and Communicative Change, 29(2), 343–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper, L., & Von Lieres, B. (2008). Inviting failures: Citizen participation and local governance in South Africa. Citizenship DRC, 1(1), 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scott, R. (2009). An analysis of public participation in the South African legislative sector. Stellenbosch University (Dissertation MPA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Servaes, J., & Lie, R. (2015). New challenges for communication for sustainable development and social change: A review essay. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 10(1), 124–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2014.982655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • South Africa. (1996). Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • South Africa. (2000). Municipal systems act 32 of 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • South Africa. (2018). Integrated development plan: IDP review final report 2018/19 of Rustenburg local municipality. https://www.rustenburg.gov.za/wpcontent/uploads/2018/06/IDP-REVIEW-FINAL-REPORT-2018-2019.pdf. Date of access 30 Nov 2022.

  • South Africa. (2019). Integrated development plan: IDP review 2019/20 of Rustenburg local municipality. https://www.rustenburg.gov.za/Docs/Final_IDP_Review_2019-2020.pdf. Date of access 30 Nov 2022.

  • Thetsane, B. M. (2019). Local community participation in tourism development: The case of Katse villages in Lesotho. Athens Journal of Tourism, 6(2), 123–140. https://doi.org/10.30958/ajt.6-2-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, P. N. (2014). Development communication and social change in historical context. In K. G. Wilkins, T. Tufte, & R. Obregon (Eds.), The handbook of development and social change. Wiley. Available at: https://www.perlego.com/book/996049/the-handbook-of-development-communication-and-social-change-pdf. Accessed 24 Jan 2023

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L., Tapscott, C., & De Wet, P. T. (2018). An exploration of the concept of community and its impact on participatory governance policy and service delivery in poor areas of Cape Town, South Africa. Politikon, 45(2), 276–290. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589346.2017.1398528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tufte, T., & Mefalopulos, P. (2009). Participatory Communication: A Practical Guide. Washington, D.C: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valle, C. D., & Strazzari, F. (2022). Grasping local participation: The implementation of the women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Western Balkans and North Africa. Global Society, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600826.2022.2153330

  • Wald, N. (2014). Anarchist participatory development: A possible new framework? Development and Social Change, 46(4), 618–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, G. B. (2007). Public participation as participatory communication in environmental policy decision-making: From concepts to structured conversations. Environmental Communication, 1(1), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524030701334342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. (2004). Is ‘Empowerment’ the answer? Gazette (Leiden, Netherlands), 66(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0016549204039939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. (2006). Community participation. Policy Studies, 27(3), 197–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa

    Tshepang Bright Molale

  2. Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Tshepang Bright Molale

Authors
  1. Tshepang Bright Molale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Management, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretori, Pretoria, South Africa

    Tsietsi Mmutle

  2. Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Tshepang Bright Molale

  3. Mass Communication Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria

    Olanrewaju Olugbenga Akinola

  4. Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa

    Olebogeng Selebi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Molale, T.B. (2024). Anchoring Participatory Communication in South Africa’s Municipal Citizen Participation During Integrated Development Planning (IDP) Processes. In: Mmutle, T., Molale, T.B., Akinola, O.O., Selebi, O. (eds) Strategic Communication Management for Development and Social Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41401-5_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation