THE BMZ ACADEMY
@061 262 1185/068 053 8213
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213
, THE BMZ ACADEMY
QUESTION: Discuss the necessity for local government in the present era of
modern government for effective and efficient control of urbanisation and its
demands on government. In your view what are the key challenges facing local
government in the implementation of their constitutional mandate and how can
these be overcome? Use relevant examples to enhance your discussion (100)
The Indispensable Role of Local Government in Managing Urbanisation and
Fulfilling Constitutional Mandates
The Necessity of Local Government in the Era of Urbanisation
Given the widespread phenomena of urbanisation and its complex demands on
governance, the need for a functional and successful local government realm is more
than ever in the current era of contemporary government. Urbanisation, which is
defined as the process of population growth in urban areas as a result of both the
natural increase in urban populations and migration from rural areas in search of a
better life, poses significant challenges that call for responsive and localised
governance structures (Barkhuizen & Gumede, 2021). The sources emphasise that
municipalities have actually had to be established as a result of urbanisation. An
authority is required to maintain control and provide inhabitants with necessary
services as metropolitan areas expand and become more populous. Theoretically, the
central government could offer these services through its departments, but real-world
experience has shown that local residents are unhappy when necessary services are
run by distant state or provincial authorities. Higher-ranking politicians and
government representatives frequently don't have a thorough awareness of the actual
needs and expectations of local residents in certain places.
The level of government nearest to the community is local government. It is often the
initial point of contact between a person and a government agency, as stated by Lima
and Delen (2020). Because of this close closeness, local government is better able
to address the particular needs, interests, and aspirations of its communities.
According to the sources, municipalities are crucial to democracy since they give
citizens the ability to exercise and enjoy their freedom and self-govern. This
encourages grassroots involvement in government and a sense of ownership.
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213