Alignment of the Eastern Cape department of local government and traditional affairs strategic plan with Alfred Nzo district municipality integrated development plan for effective municipal service delivery (2007-2009).

Abstract

The study focuses on the relationship and interlinkage between Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (DLGT A) strategic plan and Integrated Development Planning (IDP) for Alfred Nzo District Municipality. A provincial Plan should seek to address the needs of citizens within its jurisdiction. To this end, municipalities are directly responsible for service delivery. Provincial plans should guide what municipalities do, in this case DLGT A plays a supporting role in the duties and objectives of Alfred Nzo District Municipality. The DLGT A is not service oriented; it coordinates and ensures that sector departments intervene and provide their relative or relevant services to the municipalities. The study found that the DLGTA strategic plan is not directly linked to Alfred Nzo District Municipality IDP which they seeks to achieve a different constitutional mandate. The time frames within which Alfred Nzo District Municipality and DLGTA develop these two plans are different. This makes it practically impossible to have an integrated and coherent service delivery between the two spheres of government. It is recommended that the timing for the formulation of the two plans should talk to each other. Also, municipal officials should be involved in the formulation of the DLGT A strategic plan and vice versa. This would contribute to a positive relationship between the two plans. The study gives further in-depth recommendations thereof.