摘要：The study investigate the implication of community engagement in the decision-making process in South African local municipality governance. The main concern of having a community participation in decision maling has been receiving serious consideration across Africa and South Africa especially, from both civil society and government. Debatably, government in various part of the world today have initiated different or rather a diverse look at the requisite for public participation in decision-making process in local municipalities. This study focus on the challenges and the extent to which a community can be involved in the decision making practices in a local municipality leadership structure, while trying to access socio-economic and political development. Findings in this study reveal that in most Local Municipality community; participation in decision-making has not been effectively done. Using participatory theory there is a clear understanding of the relevance of putting the community members into consideration in decision making at local municipality.
其他关键词：community engagement; decision-making;local municipality; integrated development plan; effective leaddership
