The functioning of funded community based organisations in rural areas: a case study in Collins Chabane Local Municipality

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the functioning of funded Community Based Organisations in rural areas: A Case study in Collins Chabane Local Municipality. It has been widely reported that over the past decades, poor, dishonest management of public affairs and corruption (immoral acts) have dominated management of the public-sector divisions. Often, maladministration and corruption in the public sector are widely publicised and exaggerated, largely because it spends on taxpayers’ money. In trying to resolve this dilemma, practitioners in the public sector, particularly public managers adhere to guidelines which channel them on how they should administer and direct the public service. More so, the guidelines must help in placing subordinates on the right track precisely to prevent corruption and eliminate maladministration. The study adopted a pragmatic paradigm as a guideline for developing research methodology and took on the research venture in a manner that was most valid and appropriate. Thus, a mixed method research design, in which both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used was utilised. Field research study as a research design was used wherein non-probability sampling and its subtype purposive sampling method to select the respondents was applied. Two data collection instruments were used namely; research questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive analysis as a statistical technique and thematic analysis were used to analyse data. The researcher followed all the processes required for ethical considerations when conducting a study, as well as having knowledge and understanding that respondent’s participation in research must be done voluntarily without any harm. The findings of the research study were: The study findings revealed that 69 (49.3%) of the respondents agreed that the management performed different functions in funded Community Based Organisations in rural areas. It was also discovered that at 68 (48.5%) of the respondents agreed that Community Based Organisations are controlled by the members of the board. In addition, most of the respondents at 73 (52.2%) agreed that the members of the board have skills for managing the funded Community Based Organisations. Data further revealed that Community Based Organisations do not belong to people but to the community. The study findings also discovered that members of the board are educated and have knowledge on organisational matters. Finally, the study findings confirmed that the organisation is not run by young people. vi The recommendations of the research study are: The researcher recommended that members of the management should ensure that Community Based Organisations are fully operational because of the functions performed by the management. The members of the board should know their duties of guiding and leading the staff on their duties on daily basis. The management should share the knowledge or skills with the staff members to ensure that they have the same knowledge so that they can assist when the need arise. The authority must be given to all community members to limit the power of the leadership in having full control over people. The members of the board should be educated and have knowledge on organisational matters. The last recommendation is that staff members should also be involved in running the organisation to be familiar with new knowledge related to organisations.