Robert Cameron | University of Cape Town (original) (raw)
Papers by Robert Cameron
Metropolitanization and Political Change, 2005
This article examines performance management in the South African Department of Labour looking at... more This article examines performance management in the South African Department of Labour looking at the roles of the national office, provincial offices and labour centres. The research objective was to identify the problems and obstacles in implementing both the organisational and individual performance management system. A single case-study method was followed and use was made of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings were that, although there are well developed performance management frameworks, they have not really been successfully implemented. There are four categories of impediments affecting the implementation of performance management. The first category is that of problems of measurement and design. The second category is that of the gaming of the system and a lack of compliance in the signing and evaluation of individual performance agreements by senior officials. The third category is lack of capacity which includes inadequate information technology systems and poor...
The 1996 South African Constitution introduced an innovative intergovernmental relations system. ... more The 1996 South African Constitution introduced an innovative intergovernmental relations system. The hierarchical apartheid intergovernmental relations system that had persisted through the interim constitutional phase was replaced by a non-hierarchical model. Reference was no longer made to levels but rather to spheres of government. The 1996 Constitution vested local government with significant functions and powers, as well as considerable functional autonomy, and circumscribed the ability of both central and provincial government to intervene at local level. Despite this constitutional protection of local government, there are different views of decentralisation within the state. Some central government actors are committed to decentralising power to local government while others favour more centralised forms of governance. These different views are reflected in this article. It will be shown how a Department of Finance-inspired constitutional amendment in 2001 would have given c...
Indicator South Africa, 1988
This article is based on a consultancy report dealing with environmental health that was undertak... more This article is based on a consultancy report dealing with environmental health that was undertaken for the West Coast District Municipality in 2004. It has two main objectives. Firstly, it is an examination of the most costeffective and efficient options for the delivery of this service. There was a dispute between the West Coast District Municipality and some local municipalities in its jurisdiction about which level of local government should provide the service and the consulting team was brought in to consider various options in this regard. Secondly, this article attempts to locate the environmental health function between district and local municipalities within the academic discourse on political decentralisation. It argues that the decentralisation literature does not deal adequately with situations where there are two-tiers of local government sharing powers and functions. This has contributed to a vague and conflicting set of district-local relationships that were introdu...
Indicator South Africa, 1991
The research question of this article is to examine the extent to which the South African public ... more The research question of this article is to examine the extent to which the South African public service conforms to the concept of representative bureaucracy. A representative bureaucracy is understood to be one that consists of a workforce that reflects the composition of the citizens of the country. Furthermore it is held that if a public service reflects the diversity of the society within which it functions, then it is more likely to be responsive to all the diverse interests and make policy that reflects this. Data on race, and gender up to 2010 was obtained from the Department of Public Service and Administration’s PERSAL data base. The methodology used was that of a longitudinal study of affirmative action data across four time periods, namely 1995, 2000. 2005 and 2010. The data shows that the democratic aims of representative bureaucracy have largely been fulfilled in respect of race and gender although there were certain distinctive findings: ● ● Blacks are underrepresente...
This study examines the role of politics on decentralization and service delivery in South Africa... more This study examines the role of politics on decentralization and service delivery in South Africa, with a specific focus on Johannesburg and Cape Town. The research delineates how national decentralization has affected service delivery responsibilities and resources, determines whether service delivery is affected by whether or not a city is governed by an opposition party, and considers what the nature of inter-governmental relations implies for donors operating in South Africa’s urban sector. The study finds that service delivery does not appear to be worse off in Cape Town than in Johannesburg, even though the former is controlled by the opposition Democratic Alliance while the latter is in the hands of the ruling African National Congress. While there have been political attempts to undermine opposition-controlled Cape Town, the fiscal elements are protected by a relatively strong and well-managed department of finance. Moreover, both donors and the national government steer money towards Cape Town because they know it can deliver on its obligations.
Social Dynamics, 1986
N. Dewar, in his article; ‘Municipal Government under the New South African Constitution: Who Get... more N. Dewar, in his article; ‘Municipal Government under the New South African Constitution: Who Gets What, Where, Who Decides, and Who Decides Who Decides?’ Social Dynamics, Vol. 11(2), argues that the new local government legislation could lead to individual ethnic groups having the space to enact legislation which could precipitate fundamental changes to national level structures. This paper argues against this view because there is a great difference between the stated government commitment to devolution of power and the reality of local government legislation which is characterised by increased state centralisation of powers. Both forms of local government structures, Regional Services Councils and Primary Local Authorities are going to be under such tight state control that the possibility of using them to challenge national structures is negligible, neglibible. Local government restructuring must be seen as part of a broader state strategy to defuse political unrest and restructure the economy. This a...
Public Administration, 1993
This article traces the evolution of local government structures in South Africa, known as Region... more This article traces the evolution of local government structures in South Africa, known as Regional Service Councils (RSCs), which were created in 1985. The first section traces the history of local government in the country and how apartheid led to separate structures for different racial groups. This is followed by an account of why the National Party (NP) created RSCs, which were neo-apartheid structures, incorporating certain features of metropolitan government. The major features of Rscs are discussed and analysed. The operation of the Rscs around the country is assessed. The final section of the article looks at moves towards non-racial local government structures in the light of broader political developments in the country. The future of RSCs as well as metropolitan government generally is discussed.
Public Administration and Development, 2000
This article focuses on the area of metropolitan governance in South Africa. It traces its evolut... more This article focuses on the area of metropolitan governance in South Africa. It traces its evolution and looks at the performance of metropolitan government in the three major cities in the country, namely Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. It then focuses on new government policy for metropolitan areas. Particular attention is paid to the impending introduction of unitary-tier structures (‘megacities’) in metropolitan areas. The findings of the article are that there is no conclusive local or international evidence to suggest that either the unitary- or two-tier model is a better system for dealing with metropolitan problems, or that institutional reform at local level is capable of bringing about major political change. There are undoubted theoretical advantages associated with unitary-tier structures. Two-tier systems are often characterized by duplication, inefficient use of resources and complex service arrangements. However, the costs of disrupting local government structures that have recently been put in place could well be far greater than any potential savings that can be made through the amalgamation of existing local structures into a megacity. Unitary structures should accordingly be introduced in a way that will minimize administrative disruption so that officials can focus on service delivery. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public Administration and Development, 2000
Public Administration and Development, 2005
This article analyses the evolution of metropolitan government in South Africa. During the past t... more This article analyses the evolution of metropolitan government in South Africa. During the past ten years South Africa has progressed from having no metropolitan government, to a two-tier metropolitan system and now to a single-tier metropolitan system. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) prefers single-tier metropolitan authorities as a means to, inter alia, promote redistribution of resources and services, promote strategic land-use planning and facilitate economic and social development. A single-tier system was accordingly introduced in 2000. The major thrust of this article is an examination of the process that led to the introduction of six metropolitan governments, and the theoretical debates that underpinned this decision. It also analyses new types of executive systems, forms of public participation, development and service delivery. Finally, it provides a preliminary analysis of the performance of the new metropolitan governments. The article argues that structural reform, territorial changes, development in local government and new forms of service delivery have seriously overburdened local government in the short term and have detracted from service delivery. These unitary metros have, however, been operating for less than four years and must be given time to prove themselves before an informed evaluation can be made. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Politikon, 1988
Abstract This paper examines the nature of the public policy of the Cape Town City Council (CCC) ... more Abstract This paper examines the nature of the public policy of the Cape Town City Council (CCC) from 1976 until 1986. Among the major variables analysed are the CCC's political complexion, the class background of the councillors, the CCC's organisational structure, the policy process and the role of bureaucrats in this process. The CCC's relationship with its supervisory body, the Cape Provincial Administration (CPA), is examined as are the rather thorny relationships with its Management Committees. The article is concluded by analysing the substance of CCC's liberal policy, with particular reference to its allocation of funds.
Politikon, 1991
ABSTRACT This paper analyses developments in coloured? and Indian local government since the intr... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses developments in coloured? and Indian local government since the introduction of the tricameral system. It is contended that having political representatives at national level has given coloured and Indian local representatives an important access point through which their needs and problems can be addressed This has increased the powers of these bodies to a certain extent. The first part of this paper looks at how the tricameral system has changed the structure and functioning of coloured and Indian local government. The second part looks at precisely how the tricameral system has given these bodies greater influence. Various manifestations of this greater access, including case studies of specific local authorities, are examined
Politikon, 1990
ABSTRACT This paper attempts to develop a framework for analysis which can be used to measure the... more ABSTRACT This paper attempts to develop a framework for analysis which can be used to measure the degree of decentralisation in a given society. It is contended that there is no universal theory of decentralisation which can be deductively applied. Accordingly, the level of analysis is middle‐range. The article attempts to develop a theoretical framework for analysis which can measure the degree of decentralisation in a given society. Certain indices which can measure decentralisation are identified and examined. These indices are personnel, access, functions, party politics, finance, hierarchical relations and size.
Politikon, 1996
ABSTRACT South Africa's fledging democracy is two years old. One of the most bitter constitut... more ABSTRACT South Africa's fledging democracy is two years old. One of the most bitter constitutional conflicts which has emerged so far, has been the demarcation dispute around the Western Cape Metropolitan Area substructures. This dispute was between the African National Congress – dominated Government of National Unity and the National Party – controlled Western Cape Provincial Government. This paper is an analysis of this demarcation dispute. It concludes that the outcome of this dispute threw up certain ironies. Firstly, the National Party ended up implicitly agreeing with the demarcation option that it had for so long vehemently rejected, namely the amalgamation of Khayelitsha with Tygerberg. Secondly, the National Party referred the demarcation dispute in order to strengthen provincial powers. However, it ended up with less provincial powers than it had started off with.
Local Government Studies, 1995
(1995). The history of devolution of powers to local authorities in South Africa: The shifting sa... more (1995). The history of devolution of powers to local authorities in South Africa: The shifting sands of state control. Local Government Studies: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 396-417.
Local Government Studies, 2002
Metropolitanization and Political Change, 2005
This article examines performance management in the South African Department of Labour looking at... more This article examines performance management in the South African Department of Labour looking at the roles of the national office, provincial offices and labour centres. The research objective was to identify the problems and obstacles in implementing both the organisational and individual performance management system. A single case-study method was followed and use was made of a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings were that, although there are well developed performance management frameworks, they have not really been successfully implemented. There are four categories of impediments affecting the implementation of performance management. The first category is that of problems of measurement and design. The second category is that of the gaming of the system and a lack of compliance in the signing and evaluation of individual performance agreements by senior officials. The third category is lack of capacity which includes inadequate information technology systems and poor...
The 1996 South African Constitution introduced an innovative intergovernmental relations system. ... more The 1996 South African Constitution introduced an innovative intergovernmental relations system. The hierarchical apartheid intergovernmental relations system that had persisted through the interim constitutional phase was replaced by a non-hierarchical model. Reference was no longer made to levels but rather to spheres of government. The 1996 Constitution vested local government with significant functions and powers, as well as considerable functional autonomy, and circumscribed the ability of both central and provincial government to intervene at local level. Despite this constitutional protection of local government, there are different views of decentralisation within the state. Some central government actors are committed to decentralising power to local government while others favour more centralised forms of governance. These different views are reflected in this article. It will be shown how a Department of Finance-inspired constitutional amendment in 2001 would have given c...
Indicator South Africa, 1988
This article is based on a consultancy report dealing with environmental health that was undertak... more This article is based on a consultancy report dealing with environmental health that was undertaken for the West Coast District Municipality in 2004. It has two main objectives. Firstly, it is an examination of the most costeffective and efficient options for the delivery of this service. There was a dispute between the West Coast District Municipality and some local municipalities in its jurisdiction about which level of local government should provide the service and the consulting team was brought in to consider various options in this regard. Secondly, this article attempts to locate the environmental health function between district and local municipalities within the academic discourse on political decentralisation. It argues that the decentralisation literature does not deal adequately with situations where there are two-tiers of local government sharing powers and functions. This has contributed to a vague and conflicting set of district-local relationships that were introdu...
Indicator South Africa, 1991
The research question of this article is to examine the extent to which the South African public ... more The research question of this article is to examine the extent to which the South African public service conforms to the concept of representative bureaucracy. A representative bureaucracy is understood to be one that consists of a workforce that reflects the composition of the citizens of the country. Furthermore it is held that if a public service reflects the diversity of the society within which it functions, then it is more likely to be responsive to all the diverse interests and make policy that reflects this. Data on race, and gender up to 2010 was obtained from the Department of Public Service and Administration’s PERSAL data base. The methodology used was that of a longitudinal study of affirmative action data across four time periods, namely 1995, 2000. 2005 and 2010. The data shows that the democratic aims of representative bureaucracy have largely been fulfilled in respect of race and gender although there were certain distinctive findings: ● ● Blacks are underrepresente...
This study examines the role of politics on decentralization and service delivery in South Africa... more This study examines the role of politics on decentralization and service delivery in South Africa, with a specific focus on Johannesburg and Cape Town. The research delineates how national decentralization has affected service delivery responsibilities and resources, determines whether service delivery is affected by whether or not a city is governed by an opposition party, and considers what the nature of inter-governmental relations implies for donors operating in South Africa’s urban sector. The study finds that service delivery does not appear to be worse off in Cape Town than in Johannesburg, even though the former is controlled by the opposition Democratic Alliance while the latter is in the hands of the ruling African National Congress. While there have been political attempts to undermine opposition-controlled Cape Town, the fiscal elements are protected by a relatively strong and well-managed department of finance. Moreover, both donors and the national government steer money towards Cape Town because they know it can deliver on its obligations.
Social Dynamics, 1986
N. Dewar, in his article; ‘Municipal Government under the New South African Constitution: Who Get... more N. Dewar, in his article; ‘Municipal Government under the New South African Constitution: Who Gets What, Where, Who Decides, and Who Decides Who Decides?’ Social Dynamics, Vol. 11(2), argues that the new local government legislation could lead to individual ethnic groups having the space to enact legislation which could precipitate fundamental changes to national level structures. This paper argues against this view because there is a great difference between the stated government commitment to devolution of power and the reality of local government legislation which is characterised by increased state centralisation of powers. Both forms of local government structures, Regional Services Councils and Primary Local Authorities are going to be under such tight state control that the possibility of using them to challenge national structures is negligible, neglibible. Local government restructuring must be seen as part of a broader state strategy to defuse political unrest and restructure the economy. This a...
Public Administration, 1993
This article traces the evolution of local government structures in South Africa, known as Region... more This article traces the evolution of local government structures in South Africa, known as Regional Service Councils (RSCs), which were created in 1985. The first section traces the history of local government in the country and how apartheid led to separate structures for different racial groups. This is followed by an account of why the National Party (NP) created RSCs, which were neo-apartheid structures, incorporating certain features of metropolitan government. The major features of Rscs are discussed and analysed. The operation of the Rscs around the country is assessed. The final section of the article looks at moves towards non-racial local government structures in the light of broader political developments in the country. The future of RSCs as well as metropolitan government generally is discussed.
Public Administration and Development, 2000
This article focuses on the area of metropolitan governance in South Africa. It traces its evolut... more This article focuses on the area of metropolitan governance in South Africa. It traces its evolution and looks at the performance of metropolitan government in the three major cities in the country, namely Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. It then focuses on new government policy for metropolitan areas. Particular attention is paid to the impending introduction of unitary-tier structures (‘megacities’) in metropolitan areas. The findings of the article are that there is no conclusive local or international evidence to suggest that either the unitary- or two-tier model is a better system for dealing with metropolitan problems, or that institutional reform at local level is capable of bringing about major political change. There are undoubted theoretical advantages associated with unitary-tier structures. Two-tier systems are often characterized by duplication, inefficient use of resources and complex service arrangements. However, the costs of disrupting local government structures that have recently been put in place could well be far greater than any potential savings that can be made through the amalgamation of existing local structures into a megacity. Unitary structures should accordingly be introduced in a way that will minimize administrative disruption so that officials can focus on service delivery. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public Administration and Development, 2000
Public Administration and Development, 2005
This article analyses the evolution of metropolitan government in South Africa. During the past t... more This article analyses the evolution of metropolitan government in South Africa. During the past ten years South Africa has progressed from having no metropolitan government, to a two-tier metropolitan system and now to a single-tier metropolitan system. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) prefers single-tier metropolitan authorities as a means to, inter alia, promote redistribution of resources and services, promote strategic land-use planning and facilitate economic and social development. A single-tier system was accordingly introduced in 2000. The major thrust of this article is an examination of the process that led to the introduction of six metropolitan governments, and the theoretical debates that underpinned this decision. It also analyses new types of executive systems, forms of public participation, development and service delivery. Finally, it provides a preliminary analysis of the performance of the new metropolitan governments. The article argues that structural reform, territorial changes, development in local government and new forms of service delivery have seriously overburdened local government in the short term and have detracted from service delivery. These unitary metros have, however, been operating for less than four years and must be given time to prove themselves before an informed evaluation can be made. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Politikon, 1988
Abstract This paper examines the nature of the public policy of the Cape Town City Council (CCC) ... more Abstract This paper examines the nature of the public policy of the Cape Town City Council (CCC) from 1976 until 1986. Among the major variables analysed are the CCC's political complexion, the class background of the councillors, the CCC's organisational structure, the policy process and the role of bureaucrats in this process. The CCC's relationship with its supervisory body, the Cape Provincial Administration (CPA), is examined as are the rather thorny relationships with its Management Committees. The article is concluded by analysing the substance of CCC's liberal policy, with particular reference to its allocation of funds.
Politikon, 1991
ABSTRACT This paper analyses developments in coloured? and Indian local government since the intr... more ABSTRACT This paper analyses developments in coloured? and Indian local government since the introduction of the tricameral system. It is contended that having political representatives at national level has given coloured and Indian local representatives an important access point through which their needs and problems can be addressed This has increased the powers of these bodies to a certain extent. The first part of this paper looks at how the tricameral system has changed the structure and functioning of coloured and Indian local government. The second part looks at precisely how the tricameral system has given these bodies greater influence. Various manifestations of this greater access, including case studies of specific local authorities, are examined
Politikon, 1990
ABSTRACT This paper attempts to develop a framework for analysis which can be used to measure the... more ABSTRACT This paper attempts to develop a framework for analysis which can be used to measure the degree of decentralisation in a given society. It is contended that there is no universal theory of decentralisation which can be deductively applied. Accordingly, the level of analysis is middle‐range. The article attempts to develop a theoretical framework for analysis which can measure the degree of decentralisation in a given society. Certain indices which can measure decentralisation are identified and examined. These indices are personnel, access, functions, party politics, finance, hierarchical relations and size.
Politikon, 1996
ABSTRACT South Africa's fledging democracy is two years old. One of the most bitter constitut... more ABSTRACT South Africa's fledging democracy is two years old. One of the most bitter constitutional conflicts which has emerged so far, has been the demarcation dispute around the Western Cape Metropolitan Area substructures. This dispute was between the African National Congress – dominated Government of National Unity and the National Party – controlled Western Cape Provincial Government. This paper is an analysis of this demarcation dispute. It concludes that the outcome of this dispute threw up certain ironies. Firstly, the National Party ended up implicitly agreeing with the demarcation option that it had for so long vehemently rejected, namely the amalgamation of Khayelitsha with Tygerberg. Secondly, the National Party referred the demarcation dispute in order to strengthen provincial powers. However, it ended up with less provincial powers than it had started off with.
Local Government Studies, 1995
(1995). The history of devolution of powers to local authorities in South Africa: The shifting sa... more (1995). The history of devolution of powers to local authorities in South Africa: The shifting sands of state control. Local Government Studies: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 396-417.
Local Government Studies, 2002