The role of street committees in the governance of informal settlements : a case study from Waterworks Township, Grabouw
Community participation has become a key concept in research on the development and governance of underprivileged communities. It is on these grounds that the post-apartheid South African government has encouraged meaningful participation between local communities and the state, particularly through structures of local government. However, the role that street committees can play in the realisation of this ideal has received little attention from either government or academic scholars. For this reason, this study examines the role that the street committee in Waterworks, Grabouw, in the Western Cape plays in community governance. It analyses data from a qualitative study which took place between 2007 and 2008. In this thesis I argue that while the street committee has a role to play in the governance of the community, that role is limited by their lack of power. The street committee is not a statutory body and this hinders their ability to participate in local government issues. Despite these restrictions, the street committee in Waterworks was largely perceived by the local residents as doing their best in addressing pertinent issues. However, there were some who accused members of the street committee of nepotism and seeking political patronage.
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Department of Environmental and Geographical Science