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Local government's ability to solve community problems questioned A growing percentage of people in South Africa have little faith in local government's ability to solve the problems experienced in communities. In a national survey conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) among 2 197 respondents in February this year, the largest proportion of respondents (46%) disagreed with the statement that local government was able to solve community problems. This figure increased by 19% compared to a year ago, when only 27% of respondents in a similar survey felt that local government was unable to solve community problems. According to Mr Ian Hirschfeld, chief researcher at the HSRC, these figures indicate a growing crisis in popular perception of the capacity of new municipal structures. Respondents were almost equally divided as to the effect that the new municipal structures had on the lives of people in the area where they lived. The survey found that 32% of the respondents believed that these structures had no effect on their lives, while 33% thought that their lives had improved and 29% felt that theirs had deteriorated since the local government elections. The legitimacy of local government structures was measured through the responses pertaining to their perceived fairness, effectiveness, transparency, strength and honourability. Althought the majority of respondents (52%) rated their local government structures positively, 36% rated their local governments negatively in terms of these considerations of legitimacy. "Overall it would appear that the challenge facing local government is not primarily one of legitimacy, but of effecting improvements in residents' lives through the delivery of services," Mr Hirschfeld added. In the HSRC survey respondents indicated four major service priorities at local level. The provision of running water was identified as the most important priority by 30% of the respondents, while 20% rated the provision of housing by local government as a first priority. Fifteen per cent of the respondents felt that the provision of electricity was most crucial, while 9% rated health care as the most pressing need. These figures have remained relatively constant since February 1996, although there have been slight declines in the prioritisation of housing and electrification. The local services which respondents considered to deserve the lowest priority were rubbish removal (1%) and libraries and transport (both at 3%). "In the face of the challenge of service delivery the financial position of local government, and consequently attitudes to the payment of rent and service charges, is of critical importance," Mr Hirschfeld said. The survey further explored the extent to which communities were willing to contribute to local development by paying for the services utilised. Eighty-two per cent of the respondents agreed that everyone should pay for services provided by local government, as opposed to 14% who disagreed. However, respondents were sharply divided on whether everyone should pay the same rates and taxes irrespective of where they lived. Forty-eight per cent agreed with this proposition, while 46% disagreed. Furthermore, 41% of respondents agreed that persons failing to pay rent and service charges should be evicted and deprived of services, as opposed to 53% who disagreed. An analysis of the survey results by race reveals that black, coloured and Indian respondents' opinions diverged from those of white respondents. Only 35%, 42% and 25% of black, coloured and Indian respondents respectively supported eviction for non-payment, compared to 76% of white respondents. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents agreed that taxes paid by the wealthy communities should be spent to upgrade poorer communities, while 28% disagreed.
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