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An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613875642302464 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Muller, Catherine |
| author2 | Kekana, Kerotse |
| author_browse | Kekana, Kerotse Muller, Catherine |
| author_facet | Kekana, Kerotse Muller, Catherine |
| author_sort | Muller, Catherine |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132567 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:06.129Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132567 An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts Muller, Catherine Kekana, Kerotse Ndevu, Zwelinzima Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Women -- Political activity -- South Africa Public administration -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Local government -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Women -- Social conditions -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Muller, C. 2025. An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area: A case study of Klapmuts. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/4f3af370-2980-4d6c-b135-eaba7dd9d015 ENGLISH SUMMARY: South African legislation mandates local government to establish and promote public participation platforms in development and municipal planning processes. This research study emphasises the involvement of women as imperative in these municipal development and planning processes, with the view that women have extensive experience in the functioning and overall development of communities, making them a great source of expertise and knowledge. The under-representation of women is noticeable in both the ward committee structure and attendance at public participation meetings in Klapmuts, a designated ward in Stellenbosch. This is despite the population featuring a large number of single female-headed households, wherein the woman is responsible for meeting the family’s basic needs. This research posits that local government public participation processes are inclusive-orientated. Within this context, the research paper asks: what factors affect the involvement of women in Klapmuts in public participation processes? In this exploratory qualitative case study, the researcher adopted purposive and snowball sampling techniques to select the female participants in Klapmuts. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews to establish the participants’ understanding of municipal public participation, and their opinions on the benefits of participating in municipal public participation processes; the public participation structures, platforms and mechanisms available; and the challenges experienced when participating in municipal processes. The study found that participants understood the importance of their involvement in the developmental processes of the municipality. It was further found that structures, platforms and mechanisms for public participation, whether digital or physical, were established by the municipality, although some participants viewed these as ineffective at the time of the study. Participants believed that their active involvement in municipal affairs would not only benefit them by making them empowered and confident to participate, but would also allow them to benefit their community by representing the community’s needs and challenges. The obstacles which were identified as affecting the participants’ involvement in public participation spaces were education levels, prevalence of increased crime, patriarchy, time constraints, accessibility for disabled persons and lack of motivation. The recommendations resulting from this research are for the local municipality to conduct targeted awareness sessions and capacity-building sessions for women in Klapmuts to educate them on how and when to participate in legislated municipal processes. Local municipality should also reassess strategies used to distribute information in the Klapmuts area. In addition, safety initiatives should be investigated in collaboration with the ward committee to promote the safety of women during public participation periods. In addressing the challenge of participatory platforms for disabled persons, it was recommended that the local municipality reach out to existing organisations working with disabled persons to investigate options within the resource capacity of the municipality. Finally, to break the barriers of patriarchy, it is proposed that the local municipality render support to community organisations that focus on the uplift and empowerment of women in Klapmuts. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar. Masters 2025-06-11T08:46:32Z 2025-06-11T08:46:32Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132567 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xiv, 138 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Women -- Political activity -- South Africa Public administration -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Local government -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Women -- Social conditions -- South Africa UCTD Muller, Catherine An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title | An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title_full | An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title_fullStr | An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title_full_unstemmed | An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title_short | An exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the Stellenbosch municipal area : a case study of Klapmuts |
| title_sort | exploratory study on the factors affecting the involvement of women in public participation processes within the stellenbosch municipal area a case study of klapmuts |
| topic | Women -- Political activity -- South Africa Public administration -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Political participation -- South Africa Local government -- Citizen participation -- South Africa Women -- Social conditions -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132567 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mullercatherine anexploratorystudyonthefactorsaffectingtheinvolvementofwomeninpublicparticipationprocesseswithinthestellenboschmunicipalareaacasestudyofklapmuts AT mullercatherine exploratorystudyonthefactorsaffectingtheinvolvementofwomeninpublicparticipationprocesseswithinthestellenboschmunicipalareaacasestudyofklapmuts |