Ruimtelike afbakening van streeksdiensteraadgebiede: Hoe raak dit metropool en platteland

Abstract

Ineffective administration of local authori­ties is a major problem in the metropolitan areas. Individual municipalities, which should function as part of an integrated whole, operate as independent units. This leads to inadequate financial control, higher costs, unco-ordinated decision­making and fragmented supply of services. In an attempt to address these problems the Regional Services Councils Act of 1985 was introduced. Within this legisla­tion provision is made for a greater degree of co-operation and linking of manage­ment structures. However, the success of this venture depends largely on how these RSC areas are spatially defined. Especial­ly, the towns surrounding metropolitan areas are uncertain about their position. This article, therefore, aims to give an overview as to the meaning and implica­tions that the spatial delimitation criteria to such areas will hold for the RSC-con­cept in general. With these criteria in mind, a hypothetical solution to this problem, as it pertains to Cape Town and the sur­rounding rural settlements, will be offered.
*This article is written in Afrikaans.