The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges

This paper focuses on the problems and prospects of urban local government in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. It commences with an overview of the institutional framework of local government in South Africa. Secondly, it assesses the 1995 local government elections in the province, and the...

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Main Author: Geoffrey Wood
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2024-12-01
Series:Acta Academica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/8878
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author Geoffrey Wood
author_facet Geoffrey Wood
author_sort Geoffrey Wood
collection DOAJ
description This paper focuses on the problems and prospects of urban local government in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. It commences with an overview of the institutional framework of local government in South Africa. Secondly, it assesses the 1995 local government elections in the province, and the nature and extent of party political competirion at the local level. Thirdly, likely demographic trends are reviewed, along with their implications in terms of service provision. This is followed by a consideration of the revenue and planning crises confronting local authorities in the region. This issue is located within the context of specific patterns of urbanisation and economic readjustment. It is concluded that, while the detacialisation of local government represents a significant extension of South Africa's new democracy, fiscal, demographic and political realities militate against any meaningful and sustainable devolution of power over the medium and long term.
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spelling doaj-art-4e0c0475040540618872560291f25c272025-08-20T02:31:12ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Academica0587-24052415-04792024-12-01322The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challengesGeoffrey Wood This paper focuses on the problems and prospects of urban local government in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. It commences with an overview of the institutional framework of local government in South Africa. Secondly, it assesses the 1995 local government elections in the province, and the nature and extent of party political competirion at the local level. Thirdly, likely demographic trends are reviewed, along with their implications in terms of service provision. This is followed by a consideration of the revenue and planning crises confronting local authorities in the region. This issue is located within the context of specific patterns of urbanisation and economic readjustment. It is concluded that, while the detacialisation of local government represents a significant extension of South Africa's new democracy, fiscal, demographic and political realities militate against any meaningful and sustainable devolution of power over the medium and long term. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/8878
spellingShingle Geoffrey Wood
The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
Acta Academica
title The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
title_full The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
title_fullStr The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
title_full_unstemmed The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
title_short The remaking of local government in the Eastern Cape: economic, demographic and political challenges
title_sort remaking of local government in the eastern cape economic demographic and political challenges
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/aa/article/view/8878
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