The role of community participation in municipal budgeting in Makhado Local Municipality : A case study of Vhembe District Municipality

Abstract

This study examines the role of community participation in the municipal budgeting process, at Makhado Local Municipality, Vhembe in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The government has legislated various legislative frameworks that encourage communities' involvement in local government affairs. The Municipal System Act, 32 of 2000 outlines the role of community participation in municipal planning as one of the significant roles of the municipal council. Local government legislations are emphatic on the significant role played by local communities in the decision-making processes of municipalities in South Africa. The challenge is that ineffective community participation in municipality budgetary processes continues despite regulatory policy frameworks in place. Decision-making and implementation taken during budgetary processes are left to the discretion of individual municipalities. This results in service delivery protests as the municipality’s priorities are not in line with the community’s needs and demands. The literature review reveals that most of the service delivery protests that occurred at Makhado Local Municipality were attributed to ineffective community participation in matters that affected them. This study adopted the mixed research methodology for data collection, using both the quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The target population was the municipal officials, councillors, traditional leaders and the local community members within the selected Makhado Local Municipality villages. The findings of the study reveal that community participation in budgetary processes remains a challenge for the Makhado Local Municipality, hence poor service delivery. This study concludes by recommending strategies to improve community participation in budgetary processes.