The importance of public participation in community development: geographical name change within Makhado Municipality

Abstract

This study was based on the importance of public participation in community development: Geographical name change within Makhado Municipality. The concept of public participation in South Africa stated in 1980s and was supposedly applied to the inception of a true democratic dispensation in 1994. In South African context, Public participation cannot be over emphasized as it underpins the democracy introduction in 1994. The concept of public participation has gained a wider acceptance in government circles as a tool to strengthen the pillars of these governments' democratic structures. For the nature of this study, the researcher used a mixed methodology, where a qualitative and quantitative research method was used. A non-probability sampling and its sub-type purposive sampling method was used to select the respondents of this study. The researcher used a questionnaire and interview to collect data. Two data analysis methods were used, namely, statistical analysis (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and thematic analysis. The following ethics were applied when conduction the study; informed consent, voluntary subject participation, protection from harm, respect for privacy. The major findings of the study are;

• The study found out that most of the respondents in Makhado local municipality were aware of the significance of participation for geographical name change process. • The findings shows that the challenges that hinder the naming of the town Louis Trichardt to Makhado are as follows: racial trust become a problem, other group fill to retain their heritage, lack of trust between racial groups and historical challenges of racial discrimination. • The findings indicate that residents were being influenced by local municipality to participate in developing the community and that community members were committed to participate in community development. • The findings show that feedback was provided to the citizens to be aware of development activities that were taking place in the community and that community

member's inputs were regarded worthy by local municipality and by so doing, community members felt self-actualised and self-esteemed. • The study findings alludes that the following mechanisms which can be used to enhance effective participation; by the use of imbizos, by the use of traditional councils, and by the use of community radios and newspapers by the use of social networks(WhatsApp), community meetings, as well as training and workshop about the skills to be used when participating. The recommendations of the study were;

• The local municipality should be aware of the significance of participation for geographical name change process and that consultation by local municipality should be satisfactory to the majority of the community members. • The researcher recommend that community members should be encouraged to attended workshops related to geographical name change process also that community members should be aware of the geographical name change process. • Local municipality should regularly encourage all citizens to bring forth their best for the common good. Community members should participate for interaction with other community members in that they regarded community participation as the best platforms for social interaction. • It can be recommended that when people are made to participate in decision-making processes regarding issues that relate to and affect them, they become part of the initiatives and this sense of ownership encourages them to participate fully.