A brief history of intergovernmental development planning in postapartheid South Africa

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the post-apartheid experience of initiatives by the South African government at ensuring greater intergovernmental harmonisation, coordination, integration and alignment in the period 1994 to 2007. Written in narrative format, the article weaves its way between legal and policy frameworks, technical and assessment reports and academic publications on the subject. As such it highlights not only the intentions of government as captured in Acts and Policies, but also provides an indication of what was achieved during this time, and what was done to rectify the gaps. The narrative is followed by a brief discussion of main trends identified in this endeavour. The article is concluded on a positive note, with a suggestion that the tide might be turning for what has thus far been an elusive ideal.