Prior to 1994, the majority group of South Africans were denied access to and participation in all political structures and processes. This resulted in a lack of influence in terms of decision making, particularly with regard to resource allocation. In order to overcome the legacy of the apartheid regime, the local sphere of government adopted a developmental approach to local governance. The White Paper on Local Government (1998) defines developmental local government as government committed to working with citizens and groups within communities to find sustainable ways of meeting social, economic, political and material needs and improving their quality of life. This approach to development would then aim at enhancing the skills and capacity of community members by promoting participation in their own development processes. Conversely, various pieces of legislation have been enacted to encourage and create conditions for the local