Local government development priorities in developing regions: Implications for environmental management - case studies in the Free State Province, South Africa

Abstract

Development at Local Government level in South Africa is guided by the formulation of Land Development Objectives (LDOs) which referred to the strategic planning phase of the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process. Legislation determines that each Local Authority should identify and prioritise the most important developmental issues to ensure that the limited resources available are focussed on those aspects that are of the greatest concern to the community at large. Since the LDO process implies a legislative requirement with legally binding outcomes, it is significant to identify the development principles targeted; the aspects reflected in the long-term visions of the towns, and the development issues that received priority. The outcome of the latter will have direct implications for the focus of environmental management. This article will provide a short overview of the LDO process after which four case studies, representing a range of economic and demographic profiles, will be analysed. The most relevant and pressing local government development issues, identified by the specific communities within the context of a broad understanding of the term environment, will subsequently be highlighted. This will provide a context to realistically implement responsible environmental management practice.