Public participation and service delivery: A case study of Langa community in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

This study examines the role of developmental local government in involving the community to improve service delivery in Langa township in Cape Town, South Africa. According to academic research review, there are contributions of public participation in service provision. South Africa has developed a legal framework to strengthen public participation and involve the residents in the decision-making process. However, despite the legal frameworks and Batho Pele principles yet, Langa is an urban informal settlement, historically disadvantaged and more than half of its population does not access their basic rights and lives in unlivable dwellings. Furthermore, there is a need for community consultation for better decision-making. Therefore, public participation has different forms such as institutionalised spaces and citizenry-designed participatory spaces. Hence, this study aimed to assess the extent to which the community has been involved in the decision-making process. The overall aim of this study was achieved by evaluating the level of service delivery and forms of participatory structure in the community of Langa, as well as identifying factors that affect community participation and their well-being in Langa.