| Summary: | The primary aim of this study was to assess the role of intergovernmental relations structures in municipal integrated development planning in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. There are three spheres of government in South Africa, which include the national, provincial and local governments. These spheres are modelled to co-operate and support each other through the structures of intergovernmental relations (hereafter referred to as “IGR”). The IGR structures were given an institutional and statutory expression through the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005. The IGR structures are a set of formal and informal processes through which bilateral and multi-lateral co-operation can be achieved, thereby ensuring the existence of the three spheres of government. The study asserts that the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality lacks the co-ordination of integrated development planning (IDP) activities to promote proper and efficient service delivery. Section 41 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) (as amended), states that co-operation must establish or provide structures and institutions to promote and facilitate intergovernmental relations, and to provide for appropriate mechanisms and procedures to facilitate the settlement of intergovernmental disputes. The study adopted a mixed-method of research paradigms, in which both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms were utilized to assess the challenges facing the IGR structures at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (hereafter referred to as “the municipality and BCMM”). The data were collected from a sample of 30 respondents – by carefully using judgmental and snowball sampling. Questionnaires, interviews, and documentary analysis were used as the sources of the data collection. The findings were analyzed, according to the same data collection techniques. The study found that there is legislation and structures to assist the municipality in directing integrated development planning (IDP) activities within the BCMM. The IDP involves a wide range of role players – from both inside and outside the municipality. The IGR structures are in existence; but they are non-performing, according to Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 (2005) (hereafter referred to as “IGRFA”). There is a lack of political commitment in establishing the IGR structures, and a lack of information-sharing, and so forth. The study thus recommends that the BCMM should establish permanent and contractual positions; improve communication and information flow; establish a hierarchy of monitoring and evaluation systems and processes; and forge a strong partnership with the community-based organizations (hereafter referred to as “CBOs”) and the non-governmental organizations (hereafter referred to as “NGOs”). This would ensure that the IDP processes are linked to the councillors’ wards, and that the actions of programmes are known by the role players; thus this would focus on the participation and the co-ordination of the IGR structures.
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