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Abstract:
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Scholars hold a well-established view that Research and Development (R&D) is a strategic tool
to accelerate and catalyze government planning and development globally. Hence, countries
such as Germany, Japan, China, Belgium, Singapore and the United Kingdom continue to rely
on R&D for evidence-based planning and socio-economic development. However, even with
the abundance of this evidence, most provincial administrations in South Africa still find it difficult
to utilize empirical evidence for planning and development.
It is against this background that the study looked comparatively at the Limpopo, Gauteng and
Northwest provincial administrations. The interconnectedness between R&D, planning and
development within a South African provincial administration space was investigated by probing
the selected provincial planning and development approaches used by these provinces. The
study also tackled the discourse of R&D investment and funding in these provincial
administrations in South Africa. The theoretical frameworks underpinning the study are the New
Public Management Theory and the Public Management Reform Theory.
The study employed a qualitative research method underpinned by a case study research
design in order to allow the researcher to comparatively analyse the studied phenomenon in the
three selected provinces of Limpopo, Gauteng and Northwest. Additionally, the provinces were
purposively selected based on their provincial performances in planning and development. A
pilot study was conducted to pre-test the validity and relevancy of the data collection instrument;
whereas a full-scale study was later conducted and targeted 22 key informants in the offices of
the premier precisely because these offices are the coordinators of planning and development
in provinces. The universities of Limpopo, Venda, Northwest and South Africa were included in
the study and the representatives of provincial research forums in Limpopo and Northwest
Provinces were also probed. The primary data was collected using interviews; secondary data
was obtained from reviewed literature and government documents. Data was analysed using a
thematic analysis through ATLAS.ti.
The empirical evidence revealed a dearth of reliance on research and development in Limpopo
and Northwest Provinces and an underutilization of R&D in Gauteng Province. A key finding of
the study revealed that the deeply rooted challenge associated with utilizing R&D for planning
and development purposes is that it is viewed not as a priority but as an afterthought, especially
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in Limpopo and North West. In Gauteng strides have been made in the investment and funding
of R&D, although improvements are needed. There is also a gap between theory, as in what is
contemplated theoretically, and policy and practice, as in what is needed on the ground as far
R&D funding and investment are concerned.
The study proposes an R&D model for planning and development in South Africa’s provincial
administration. The model identifies and suggests critical factors needed to influence the role of
research and development in government’s planning and development. These factors are
twofold—internal and external. The internal factors are those that are specifically directed to
government as the key role player and the coordinator of planning and development, particularly
the offices of the premier due to their strategic roles in provincial administrations. The external
factors refer to those that lie outside public administration or government and relate to external
institutions, which in this context are the academia/universities, civil society and the private
sector. These factors will enable the government to function better and together with these key
role players it can successfully execute its mandate of improving the lives of the citizenry and
transforming society. Additionally, this model will contribute to the policy landscape in South
Africa since its findings and recommendations can be extrapolated to other provinces. The study
will also contribute to the body of knowledge on R&D by closing the knowledge gap between
the studied phenomenon and its relevance at provincial and local levels. |