Abstract:
The study evaluates the criteria for allocation of development projects to communities using
key guideline documents from municipalities such as the Spatial Development Frameworks
and the Integrated Development Plans. Allocation of development projects in local
municipalities must be well informed and must prioritise community needs hence the need for
an objective process to the allocation of projects in communities. The study focused on one
rural local municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality due to the level of service delivery
protests and service delivery dissatisfaction experienced in the municipality that led to the
2016 municipal boundary redefinition process and a request of a new municipality called
Collins Chabane. In this study, the name Malamulele which was under Thulamela Local
Municipality is used interchangeably with the new name Collins Chabane. The study utilised
the Evaluation Survey Approach to determine the allocation of projects in different
communities in Thulamela local municipality. Both qualitative and quantitative research
techniques, using Evaluation Survey Approach to unpack the implications of misbalanced
allocation of development projects in rural communities were used. Data was collected through
household questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observations. Key informants
were selected through purposive random sampling techniques while household surveys were
accomplished through stratified random sampling technique. Collected data on the role of
government with respect to service delivery, criteria on the allocation, economic and
demographic profiles, infrastructure and community service provision and principles of project
allocation are presented, discussed, processed and analysed through thematic content
analysis, SPSS and Microsoft Excel Packages. Based on the study’s findings of insufficient
public participation, misalignment of SDF/SDBIP/IDP, lack of fund and planning, boundary
disputes among others, the researcher then makes recommend the strategy for the allocation
of development projects that involves outlining the criterion used to allocate development
projects, adequate public participation, improved level of SDF alignment and principles for
improved developmental project allocations in rural municipalities.
