Page 14 - Research Report 2025.1

Legislative Framework and Compliance
The legislative framework governing rural municipalities is both a source of guidance and a significant challenge. Participant 3 outlined key legislative acts such as the Structures Act, the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the Disaster Management Act.
Participant 6 acknowledged that, like any municipality, Alfred Nzo is governed by legislative frameworks and political structures, with the council serving as the supreme body. However, the financial constraints imposed by the reliance on external grants pose significant challenges to the sustainability of development efforts.
Participant 2 however, raised concerns about the extensive legislative framework governing rural municipalities, which can sometimes hinder effective service delivery. Participant 2 noted that local government in South Africa is “over-legislated,” with too many laws and regulations complicating the governance process. This legislative burden, while intended to ensure accountability, can often delay or obstruct the delivery of services, particularly in rural municipalities that may lack the administrative capacity to comply with the myriad of legal requirements.
Public Participation
Public participation is identified as a key element of governance in rural municipalities, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard in decision-making processes. Participant 5 described the various public participation forums managed by the office of the speaker, which create a platform for community members and municipal representatives to engage in meaningful dialogue about governance issues. These forums play a vital role in enhancing transparency and accountability by making local governance more responsive to the needs of rural communities.
Similarly, Participant 3 highlighted the role of the office of the speaker in leading public engagement initiatives. Regular community meetings,or Imbizos,organised by the mayor’s office,provide an opportunity for the municipality to interact directly with residents.These meetings also serve as a platform for disaster management campaigns, where internal and external stakeholders are involved in public governance efforts. This inclusive approach to governance helps ensure that the municipality’s actions are aligned with community priorities.
Effective public participation promotes democratic governance by fostering trust and transparency. Collaborative governance, which involves citizens in the decision-making process, is essential for ensuring that development initiatives meet the actual needs of the community.
Participant 3
“The municipality has its own legislations that govern municipality. We have structures act, we have in MFMA Municipal Finance Management Act. You have your Dora. You have your Disaster Management Act.”
Participant 6
“Yes. I’m saying like any municipality. Because we are governed by the legislative framework. Yes. We have political we have political structures.
Uh-huh. The council, the supreme body.”
Participant 2
“The system and structures, local government in itself is way in South Africa is way over legislated according to my view. It has a lot of legislation. It’s one sphere that, sometimes fails to deliver because of many things to be observed within the legislative framework of local government.”
Participant 5
Also, there is, number of structures, as I have mentioned in terms of, those public participation
forums there that are of this that that are, managed under the office of the speaker, where there’s the speaker’s forums, where all speakers of the meet and, operate together dealing
with the issues of public participation within the
district municipality.
Participant 3
“Also, we have the office speaker that that leads public participation, now and then, we go to people Imbizo organised by the mayoral office. And also, as disaster management will also go out and do public governance campaigns, working with all internal and out, and external stakeholders. So we reach out to people”
12 | STUDY OBJECTIVE I