Page 62 - Research Report 2025.1

Policy Review and enforcement
The results reveal that policy implementation is structured and involves a clear division of responsibilities. Participant 5 pointed out that political leadership sets the policy direction, while administrators are responsible for enforcement. This clear distinction helps maintain efficiency and checks and balances in policy implementation. Participant 3 explained that standing committees, such as those for budget and treasury, play a crucial role in ensuring that policies are thoroughly discussed and vetted before implementation, adding another layer of oversight.
Participant 2
“They get in they get, formulated within the context of the district and appreciate the differences in terms of classes that you would find in the district.”
Participant 7
“They are they are developed by the department, in consultation with the stakeholders.”
Participant 3
“We go and present with standing committees that we sit in. There’s a standing committee for departments. For examples, there’s a standing committee for CDR, a standing committee for budget and treasury. Councillors also sit at these standing committees. Yeah. So you present and present at the policy conference where all our policies are reviewed, and it will sit sometime in June, there we sit in the broader standing committee where everyone interrogates the policies.”
Participant 5
“If formulation and development, of policies it is the mandate of the political leadership, but then, the administrative the administrators be become the implementers or the enforcers of the policies. Yes. So the political leadership sets the tone, and then we implement”
Openness in Reporting and Accountability
The results show a strong emphasis on transparency in municipal
operations,particularly in reporting and accountability.Participant
4 highlighted that the municipality operates with openness,
especially when projects or initiatives are not completed as
planned. They mentioned that when the municipality fails to
achieve a goal, there is no hesitation in explaining the reasons, citing specific challenges or obstacles. This open approach to reporting ensures that the public is well-informed about the progress of municipal projects, fostering trust and accountability. It also allows the community to follow up on issues and understand the challenges faced by the municipality in implementing its plans.
Community involvement is at the heart of policy formulation, ensuring that policies are tailored to the local context and reflective of community needs.
Participant 1 emphasised the importance of consulting communities before any policy or by-law is adopted by the council. This underscores a participatory governance model, where communities are not just passive recipients of policies but active contributors to the policy-making process.
Participant 6 added that policy formulation is informed by sector-specific consultations. For example, in the agricultural sector, consultations are held with farmers to ensure that the policies are directly applicable to their needs, blending indigenous knowledge with modern technical expertise.This highlights the incorporation of both local wisdom and modern strategies,ensuring that policies are both culturally relevant and technically sound.
The Integrated Development Plan (IDP), as mentioned by Participant 4, is a critical tool for aligning municipal policies with community needs. The IDP process requires extensive community participation and is seen as a guiding document for local development. The IDP integrates various community inputs into a comprehensive strategy for development, addressing issues such as infrastructure, health, and local economic development. Public engagement is mandatory during the drafting of IDP, which ensures that the development goals reflect the community’s priorities.
Public participation in policy formulation is crucial for ensuring that local policies reflect community needs and priorities. However, more efforts should be made to ensure that community members are well-informed and engaged in these processes, rather than merely attending to fulfill procedural requirements.
4. Public Participation in Policy Formulation
Public participation in policy formulation is essential for creating policies that reflect local needs. Participant 5 discussed how public input is gathered for municipal health policies, disaster management strategies, and bylaws. While these processes are in place, the challenge lies in ensuring that the community is both informed
and engaged throughout the process, rather than attending meetings solely for procedural purposes.
Governments need to improve public education on the impact of policy formulation and how community input can influence local laws. This could include simplifying communication around policy proposals and increasing the transparency of how community feedback is incorporated into final policy decisions. Engaging
local leaders, NGOs, and community organisations in this process can help enhance participation.
Participant 4
If we said we are going to do this and for whatever reason, we didn’t do it, there’s no harm in saying we couldn’t because of 1, 2, and 3. Openness. So that’s how our municipality is operating.
60 | STUDY OBJECTIVE III