Mteto, Zoleka Martha Cordelia2016-10-052016-10-052009http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/610The aim of the study was to re-assess the practice of community development in the Eastern Cape Local Government. The study focused on the democratisation of community development, and the relationship between participation in and improved efficiency of community projects in improving household livelihood and community economy. The literature review showed conceptualized community development, within the context of South African Local Government. The role of a developmental local government has to be activated in order to support community development initiatives. The role of such a local government includes institutional and resource support and with increased opportunities for active popular participation of the marginalised, women and youth in community development. To achieve its aims, the study conducted interviews and focus-group engagement with selected community projects drawn from the local government sphere. The findings of the assessment showed deficiencies in collective participation and consensus between institutions of local government and the community projects, lack of coordinated resource support, and general deficiencies in intra-project social capital energies to further stimulate the community projects to high efficiency. Therefore, the selected projects have not impacted sustainably on the household livelihoods and community economy. The key recommendation of the study was the mobilization of communities and local government institutions to create participatory partnerships in order to increase the collective consensus that is essential in the administration of community projects.engCommunity development -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeLocal government -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeMunicipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studiesMunicipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeThesis