The implementation of the indigent policy in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Policy development and management remains the subject of boardrooms and societal preoccupation. This is precisely because policies are a vehicle for customer service and service delivery. For any product or service that is produced or consumed or used, there must be certain standard operating procedures, processes, and protocols generated and developed to produce or deliver that product or service to the users (consumers) who are mainly the people. Therefore, policy implementation is the framework that guides processes and procedures to deliver services and products to the people. Thus, this study focuses on the policy implementation process. The aim of the study was to investigate public policy implementation, with a focus on the indigent policy in a local municipality. A qualitative study was undertaken to investigate implementing the indigent policy in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, hereafter referred to as the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. A non-probability sample frame was used where purposive samples were drawn from among municipal administrators (staff), ward committee members, community development workers, politicians (Councillors), indigent beneficiaries, and ordinary community members of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. Data was collected using semi-structured open-ended question interview guide. In-depth, face-to-face (one-on-one) and telephonic interviews were conducted with the director responsible for finance and the councillor responsible for the social cluster portfolio in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality respectively. Focus group discussions including the officers (staff) responsible for the management and delivery of the indigent services in the Greater Tzaneen, the ward committee members, the community development workers (six), the ward councillors (six), community members and the indigents (six) of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality were also conducted. The participants were organised into Groups A, B, and C for efficient data management. There was a total complement of 20 participants and respondents. This study used the 5C Protocol plus the sixth C, hereinafter also referred to as the Protocol, to investigate implementing the indigent policy in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. Findings and recommendations deduced from the study mainly highlight the positive or negative outcomes of compliance, namely, lack of capacity to measure water and sanitation in rural areas; policy content well designed and packaged; context variable still needs more attention to cite but a few