An evaluation of municipal service delivery against the background of local government transformation : case study : Phumlani settlement

Abstract

One of the many challenges facing local government is to deliver an equitable service to the citizens of South Africa. Local government, like many other government institutions, has limited financial 'and human resources capacity to attend to these challenges. It is, therefore, important that local government strive within these constraints, to provide equitable services'to its people in terms of housing, water, electricity and sanitation. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the standard of municipal services delivered to the Phumlani settlement. The research survey included techniques such as a structured, self-administered interviews and observations. The target research population were a sample of households located in this settlement. The structured interview was designed to assess the achievement of the norms and standards as stipulated in the National Housing Code as promulgated in the Housing Act, 1997 (Act 107 of 1997) in respect of permanent residential structures for low-cost housing. The significance of the research is the evaluation of the service delivery as perceived by the previous Phumlani infonmal community. This research lists the existing shortcomings in the standard of service delivery to the Phumlani settlement evaluated in terms of the norms and standards as stipulated in the above National Housing Code.