Service delivery protest actions: a case study for Alfred Nzo District Municipality

The study focused on the causes of service delivery protests in Alfred Nzo District Municipality. The aim of the study was to identify the challenges and the concerns of protestors and to highlight the underlying reasons behind the protests. This study started by reviewing the constitutional basis for basic service delivery, the legislative framework, background to Alfred Nzo District Municipality, the structural set- up of municipalities and related studies on service delivery protests. Thereafter, the candidate undertook original research on a valid focus group interview consisting of ward committees sampled from the areas considered as “hotspots” in the district of Alfred Nzo District Municipality. The researcher adopted a qualitative methodology for the analysis upon which conclusions were drawn. The study describes the respondents concerns, challenges and reasons for service delivery causes. This study provides evidence that the current challenges confronting the people of Alfred Nzo District Municipality and many citizens of South Africa are the result not only of historical factors, but also “crisis of service delivery”, which in turn is as a result of poor management, corruption, political interference in administration, cadre-deployment, demarcation issues, non- accountability of political and administrative leadership and insufficient funding by the donors and treasury. Furthermore, the results show that the majority of the respondents believe the protests are a result of anger and frustration. In conclusion the study proposes that the South African government must go back to the “Batho Pele” principles as they are regarded as the solution to address the impatience and violent protests