Prospects, Constraints, and Barriers to the Efficient Delivery of Human Settlements In South Africa: The Case for Professionalisation

Brendan Patrick Boyce^*Sijekula Mbanga^*

• Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

There have been various efforts and attempts at advancing the professional project of human settlements in South Africa both prior to and since democracy. The South African polity, in the period since democracy, has witnessed significant shifts in state policy calling for the increasing professionalisation of the civil service in general through, the National Development Plan (NDP) as well as the National Professionalisation Framework (NPF) for the public service. The rationale behind these has been to build a capable and efficient state. This paper will present a critical review of literature pertaining to professionalisation of the civil service as it relates to the Human Settlements sector in South Africa with a particular focus on the major causes of inefficiencies in service delivery. The paper will adopt a blended theoretical framework drawing on systems thinking, theory of constraints and Institutionalisation of professional practices in the sector. The paper argues that beyond the calls for overall professionalisation, the human settlements professional project has a more specific history which has been a systemic response to sector deficiencies and constraints. Therefore this study will by necessity consider the existing policy frameworks as well as selected empirical information around the professionalisation of the human settlements in South Africa. The paper examines international trends and local directions in professionalisation as well as considers key leverage points for the domestication of an implementation framework to guide professionalisation in the arena of human settlements for enhanced service delivery, improved quality of household life and economic progress. The main findings emphasis strong alignment between sector deficiencies and professionalisation objectives. The paper argues for a more rapid advancement of professionalisation processes to address the significant systemic weaknesses across the human settlement sector, and suggested that these have created systemic barriers to effective service delivery of human settlements. The study takes care not to advance professionalisation as a panacea and highlights potential negative impacts of professionalisation efforts. The study highlights the significant developments at the policy, institutional and interorganizational level to nurture progress towards sector professionalisation.