Evaluating the District Development Model: a review, with case studies: summary report

This study was conducted with the primary objective of assessing the implementation of the DDM in South Africa in three chosen municipalities ��� the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, the Waterberg District Municipality in Limpopo and the OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. These three pilot sites were identified based on their socio-economic profiles and rural-urban mix. The methodology employed in the study involved (1) Drawing on regional and international experiences as case studies to inform the implementation of the DDM; (2) Conducting desktop and empirical studies on the practical workings of the DDM to determine how it responds to service delivery and development challenges within the three piloted municipalities under investigation; and (3) Proposing policy options and recommendations to inform the implementation of the DDM in response to the developmental local government mandate.

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Publication Details

Journal
Human Science Research Council SA
Published
2026-05-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14749/32364231
Primary Topic
Local Economic Development and Planning
Type
article
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article

Evaluating the District Development Model: a review, with case studies: summary report

Human Sciences Research Council
Human Science Research Council SA
Local Economic Development and Planning
article

Evaluating the District Development Model: a review, with case studies: summary report

Human Sciences Research Council
article en

Abstract

This study was conducted with the primary objective of assessing the implementation of the DDM in South Africa in three chosen municipalities ��� the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, the Waterberg District Municipality in Limpopo and the OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape. These three pilot sites were identified based on their socio-economic profiles and rural-urban mix. The methodology employed in the study involved (1) Drawing on regional and international experiences as case studies to inform the implementation of the DDM; (2) Conducting desktop and empirical studies on the practical workings of the DDM to determine how it responds to service delivery and development challenges within the three piloted municipalities under investigation; and (3) Proposing policy options and recommendations to inform the implementation of the DDM in response to the developmental local government mandate.

Human Science Research Council SA
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Local Economic Development and Planning
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