Page 6 - Research Report 2025.1

RESULTS OF THE STUDY
Study Objective 1
Provide a holistic picture of rural local government in the countries targeted by this project.
Overall theme 1: Rural Context and Local Government Governance
1. Offer a comprehensive overview of rurality in the local government areas this research covers.
2. What distinguishes the rural municipalities within local government frameworks in South Africa?
3. In terms of local government service provisions, which essential services are provided and how are they accessed?
4. What livelihood strategies are prevalent in this area and what is the role of local government?
5. Considering rural local government frameworks, what are the main challenges and prospects for advancing rural development and
sustainable livelihoods?
Results
The following thematic analysis presents key themes drawn from participant interviews and focus group discussions. Each theme explores aspects of life in the Alfred Nzo District, illustrating the intersections between rurality, infrastructure deficits, environmental challenges and social-cultural dynamics. Direct participant quotes are provided to ground the analysis in the lived experiences of the respondents.
1. Offer a comprehensive overview of rurality in the local government areas this research covers.
This section presents a comprehensive overview of rurality in the Alfred Nzo District, as revealed through interviews and focus group discussions.
Participant 1
It is one of the the smallest, if I’m not mistaken, in the country, smallest district, and the poorest as well in the district. Alfred Nzo is a rural District Municipality with four
local municipalities, namely, Winnie Madikizela Mandela,
which is the former Bizana, which is named after Umama Winnie Madikizela Mandela and then there’s iMatatiela, which is the biggest local municipality in the region, and then, Umzumvubu, which is constituted by Mount Ayliff and, Mount Frere,
which are now called, Kwabhaca and Emaxasibeni, and
then Ntabankulu local municipality.
Participant 5 added
“Alfred Ndzo district municipality is a municipality that is composed of 4 local municipalities, and it is a very diverse, local municipality.
We’ve got 1 ocean or one, I would say, one sea, which is, which is wild coast. And also, there’s a belt of mountains at the at Matatiel local municipality.
It is rich in agriculture and tourism”
4 | STUDY OBJECTIVE I