The provision of basic services to citizens in a fair and equitable manner has been a challenge for the South African government, given the history of segregation based on race and color that was instituted by the apartheid regime. It is such a challenge that compelled the present government to identify various alternative strategies that will enhance service delivery, hence the birth of an idea to establish Multipurpose Community Centers (MPCCs), which later became known as Thusong Service

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... ers (TSCs), to serve as the vehicle in enhancing service delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the MPCCs (herein also referred to as TSCs or Centers) established by the South African government do enhance service delivery to the previously marginalized communities. The study was conducted in three provinces in South Africa, and in each province three municipalities where TSCs have been established were randomly chosen on the basis of their geographical location, namely rural, semi-urban and urban areas where previously marginalized communities dwell. Stratified random sampling was utilized in gathering information as the researcher targeted four population groups, namely the beneficiaries of services, government officials who service clients in the TSCs, center managers and provincial coordinators of the TSCs. The researcher utilized structured questionnaires to gather information from beneficiaries of services, semi-structured interview schedule for government officials, and an observation sheet to record how TSCs operate, and whether the government officials practice Batho Pele Principles in serving recipients of services. This article argues that although the introduction of such Centers was a noble idea and that the household access to basic services has changed for the better in certain communities, the Centers have not been successful in accelerating services in some communities as revealed by the study. One of the reasons these Centers are not successful is lack of consultation by government with commun [...]