A Rural Perspective on the African Peer Review Mechanism: Views on Socio-Economic Development and Public Service Delivery in Rural South Africa

The African Peer Review Mechanism’s (APRM) merits and significance in the governance debate have emerged as a pivotal point in the evolution of institutional and state governance, providing enormous prospects for public accountability, socio-economic progress, and development of African countries. Through decentralisation, which many African countries have embraced, local government provides scope for such opportunities to come to fruition. As a result, following South Africa’s admission to the African Peer Review Mechanism in 2003, the realm of local government is important to the achievement of the country’s Programme of Action. The White Paper on Local Government (WPLG), which serves as the Chapter’s starting point, provides a policy framework for local government in South Africa that is congruent with the APRM’s theme areas of democracy, political governance, and socio-economic development. Local government in South Africa, however, is not a homogeneous institution, and there are differences in their capacity to provide for their citizens. The WPLG provides a policy framework for both rural and urban towns, but the two environments are significantly different, providing substantial issues for rural communities. Previous APRM self-assessment reports were silent on the subject, preferring to focus on national victories rather than disaggregating rural–urban achievements and concerns.