Communication models for rural-based municipalities: a case study of Matatiele Local Municipality.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The development history of South Africa (SA) is overshadowed by the apartheid era, which represented an authoritarian style of governance. This approach prevented the majority of South Africans, particularly black people, from having the right to make political, social, and economic decisions (Lieberman, 2022). People and communities were treated as passive recipients of development and had no say in their development. When the democratic government came to power in 1994, a new approach to development was born which was aligned to the principles of democratic governance. New policies, legislation, strategies, and plans were initiated to support the improvement of the livelihoods of the poor and the previously disadvantaged. The new policies encouraged participation, community empowerment, and democratic involvement of communities in the development process (Govender & Reddy, 2011). To enhance these participatory and democratic policies towards development, the South African governance structure has positioned municipalities, also known as local government, to drive social development, economic growth, and service delivery at the local level. A municipality must acknowledge and endorse the importance of using a participatory and democratic approach to communication as a guiding tool for achieving sustainable development and realising development goals. The development goals are realised through the necessary policies, strategies, and plans. The aim of this study was to explore participatory communication processes that are used by the Matatiele Local Municipality (MLM) to communicate with citizens. The study also sought to evaluate how the identified participatory communication models influenced service delivery, especially as guided by the Integrated Development Plan (IDP). Furthermore, the study set out to assess the impact of good governance on participatory communication. In addition, the study sought to provide recommendations on what appropriate participatory communication models can be adopted as traditional modes of communication in rural communities. To realise the above objectives of the study, laws, policies, and strategies were explored under the participatory communication concept. The researcher further used empirical research models as a lens to ascertain whether existing government practices are effective in improving service delivery through good governance measures. For the purpose of this study, the qualitative research method was adopted. The responses from the interviews revealed that participatory communication exists within the Matatiele Local Municipality but it has not spread across all the areas within the municipality’s jurisdiction. Of the 19 participants interviewed, most were of the view that the Municipality consults through ward committees and/or tribal authority, and that ward councillors are also passive-active in communicating with them. Respondents reported that participatory communication is witnessed mostly during the run-up to elections, during budget, and IDP processes. However, some participants were unaware of the concept and reported a lack of communication and feedback from the municipality. Lack of good infrastructure, service delivery, and decentralisation were also factorial issues that were discovered during the study. Therefore, the study concludes on findings that little is focused on tribal authorities and the crucial role they play in democratic development of a local structure. The study recommends that the municipality educates communities participatory communication. In this regard, the role that the public plays in the governance process will be clear

Cross pathogenicity of Neofusicoccum australe and Neofusicoccum stellenboschiana on grapevine and selected fruit and ornamental trees

[EN] Neofusicoccum australe is one of the most important Botryosphaeriaceae pathogens occurring on fruit and vine crops. This fungus was recently taxonomically reassessed, identifying N. stellenboschiana as a separate species. Previous pathogenicity studies used N. stellenboschiana and N. australe isolates as N. australe, so assessment of the pathogenicity of these two species on grapevine and other hosts was required. A pathogenicity trial was conducted on detached shoots of grapevine, plum, apple, olive and Peruvian pepper tree. Shoots were individually inoculated with 11 N. australe and eight N. stellenboschiana isolates originally isolated from grapevine, plum, apple, olive, Peruvian pepper and fig. Both species formed lesions on all five hosts and were reisolated 5 weeks post-inoculation. In general, the largest lesions were formed on plum and smallest on Peruvian pepper. Isolate host origin did not influence ability to cause lesions on other hosts. Isolates of N. australe and N. stellenboschiana differed in virulence on the various hosts, ranging from those that caused the largest lesions, a group causing intermediate lesions, and another causing lesions similar to uninoculated controls. The study demonstrates that N. australe and N. stellenboschiana isolates originating from various fruit hosts can infect alternative hosts including grapevine and other major fruit crops.This research developed from a mobility sojourn funded by the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees Programme of the European Commission under the PLANT HEALTH Project. The authors also acknowledge financial support from ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF UID88771). Technical Assistance was provided by Carine Vermeulen, Danie Marais, Julia Marais, Muriel Knipe, Lydia Maart, Christopher Paulse, Bongiwe Sokwaliwa, Nadeen van Kervel, and Levocia Williams (Plant Protection Division, ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij).Mojeremane, K.; Lebenya, P.; Du Plessis, IL.; Van Der Rijst, M.; Mostert, L.; Armengol Fortí, J.; Halleen, F. (2020). Cross pathogenicity of Neofusicoccum australe and Neofusicoccum stellenboschiana on grapevine and selected fruit and ornamental trees. PHYTOPATHOLOGIA MEDITERRANEA. 59(3):581-593. https://doi.org/10.14601/Phyto-11609S58159359