View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

live in, invest in and visit. Given the serious spatio-temporal effects caused by the then
historically racial and biased developmental agenda, the South African government since
1994 has prioritised rural development and urban renewal as key imperatives to reverse the
trend. The propensity to access basic services and needs for improved livelihood depends on
how effective the local political economy is functioning and how the available resources are
put to use. This study uses Ulundi as a study area to present options to development
challenges facing a municipality in the country.
This chapter has presented an orientation to the study based on the statement ofthe problem,
aims and objectives. The chapter has further formulated hypothesis and included justification
ofthe study in a research, the rationale ofthe study, operational definition ofconcepts and the
layout of the thesis. This chapter again acknowledges the growing global consensus that
democratic governance creates the conditions for sustainable development and poverty
reduction. Local governments can play a major role in this effort by ensuring more effective
and accountable local infrastructure and service delivery for the poor and by improving the
dialogue between the state, citizens and their communities, and the private sector
(www.uncdf.org/francais/local_development). The Chapter has stimulated options for the
development challenges facing rural municipalities especially those in poor rural South
Africa. In doing so, this Chapter seeks to advocate maximum use of existing local resources
as primary means for communal empowerment and general socio-economic upliftment.
Adequate knowledge of landscape and cultural features to advance the objective ofa growing
local economy is significant to attract people to live and invest in rural municipalities like the
Ulundi Local Municipality.
18