The International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration (IASIA), headquartered in Belgium held its 2024 annual conference from 1-5 July 2024 in Bloemfontein, South Africa under the theme, Alternative Service Delivery and Sustainable Societal Responsiveness.
A contingent of 15 UKZN academics and senior postgraduate students attended the conference.
Traditional government systems/structures have encountered challenges responding to the needs of the citizenry, and alternative service delivery systems have emerged, providing opportunities for other actors/role players, namely the private sector, civil society organisations and community organisations to be part of the process.
Professor Purshottama Reddy, a public governance expert based at UKZN’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership, presented a paper co-authored by master’s graduate Ms Ronelle Hlongwane and Dr Sakhile Zondi, entitled: Monitoring of Water Service Performance in Local Government: A Case Study of Ugu District Municipality in South Africa. It called for on-going municipal monitoring and evaluation systems to address challenges relating to water service delivery as well as deteriorating infrastructure.
Reddy also chaired a panel on Reflections on Alternative Service Delivery in the BRICS Countries. China and India have placed considerable emphasis on the creation of a digitally empowered society for service delivery, while South Africa and Brazil have lamented the lack of access to information and communication technology.
Doctoral student Mr Thembinkosi Mkhize presented a paper (co-authored by Reddy) on: A Critique of the Role and Impact of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises in Economic Development in South Africa.
Zondi and Professors Thokozani Nzimakwe and Reddy co-authored a paper entitled, Towards a Shared Services Approach as an Alternative Service Delivery Strategy in the South African Local Government Sphere. It explored the concept of Shared Services Centres which have emerged internationally as an alternative service delivery mechanism through which local government can optimise service delivery systems to the local citizenry. South African municipalities have made progress in implementing this approach to render services; however, there are challenges and limitations.
Zondi also served as a panellist on a session that reflected on alternative service delivery in the BRICS countries.
Professor Henry Wissink, Emeritus Professor of Public Governance at UKZN and the Co-chair and Rapporteur of IASIA’s Working Group on Public Policy, Public Decision-making and Implementation chaired two working group sessions.
Dr Cheryl Mohamed Sayeed from the School of Social Sciences presented a paper co-authored with Dr M Emser entitled, The Nexus of Deviant Globalisation, Migration, Corruption and Human Trafficking in South Africa. It untangled the complexities surrounding the intersection of trafficking in persons in South Africa with migration, and diasporic communities, in an era of globalisation through the use of Turner and Kelly’s (2009) typology of diasporic models. The paper offered a perspective on the complexities of trafficking chains and experiences where diasporic communities are involved (either as victims or perpetrators).
Dr Lubna Nadvi’s (School of Social Sciences) paper on Active Citizenship as a Source of Alternative Service Delivery: Some Reflections from eThekwini Municipality interrogated how South Africans are engaging with contemporary politics as “active citizens” and whether their active participation constitutes a form of service delivery, given the gaps that exist in this area, particularly in eThekwini Municipality. The research concluded that residents often find themselves having to plan to meet their basic needs where there is no service delivery, and this does amount to alternative delivery.
Mr Mphathesithe Mkhize, a PhD in Public Policy candidate under the supervision of Mohamed Sayeed, participated in the PhD programme at the conference.
Dr Elvin Shava presented a paper titled, Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child: Navigating Consequence Management in Local Government Transformation. The study revealed a lack of consequence management due to unreformed local government institutions, as well as political and administrative will. It also highlighted weak intergovernmental relations and the lack of emotional intelligence. Institutionalisation of ethics was recommended to enhance municipal service delivery.
Dr Nduduzo Ndebele’s paper on Waste Recycling in South African Local Government: Pitfalls and Prospects for Achieving the Green Economy Accord questioned South African local government’s best practice in waste recycling, reuse, and recovery and its performance against the expectations of Commitment 5 of the Green Economy Accord. The recommendations focused on policy shifts for sectoral harmonisation of legislation at national and provincial levels, and the creation of transdisciplinary innovation platforms for active engagement across sectors, as well as realignment of local frameworks, including aligning the roles and responsibilities within local economic development units in local structures.
Professor Mogie Subban supported her three recently-graduated doctoral students who presented papers in various facets of alternative service delivery. Dr Ayanda Makhaye addressed The Delayed Dream: Speeding Local Economic Development and Local Government Capacity in the Race to Vision, 2030. The study recommends the creation of a Local Economic Development framework to foster critical collaboration with all stakeholders. Dr Haseena Majid presented on Exploring Eye Health Service Delivery: A Public-Private Case Study in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal and recommended mapping of eye health services at district and provincial levels for enhanced service delivery. Dr Nomachule Lombo’s paper on Strengthening Rural School Infrastructure to Support Learner Rights and Performance: The Alternative Service Delivery recommended broad practical strategies in relation to policy, economic growth and education to improve the welfare of society.
Dr Syanda Mthuli presented a paper entitled, The District Development Model and Shared Services in South Africa’s Politically Competitive Local Governments: An Alternative Service Delivery for the Whole-of-Government Approach? The paper, which was co-authored by Dr Nikita Singh of the Graduate School of Business and Leadership, critiqued local government policy implementation and service delivery three decades into democracy, and beyond the recently launched District Development Model and Shared Services Approach in South Africa.