Is it a rip-off or not? : changes in the service delivery patterns in the integrated sustainable rural development programme (ISRDP) nodes from 2001 to 2011

South Africa, like other developing countries, is characterised by numerous rural development defies.These rural development challenges are mainly caused by apartheid policies that were implemented during the apartheid era, and not by rural-urban market relations as is the case for many developing countries.For example, black people were forced to stay in the homelands, except if they were under employment in the urban areas and that had to be proven beyond reasonable doubt.These undesirable laws adversely affected people's quality of life (QOL).QOL refers to some qualities of individuals such as education or health achievements (both mental and physical) or environmental conditions under which people live such as poor housing or water and air pollution.In this study, Census 2001 and 2011 data was used to establish the changes in the service-delivery patterns in the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Programme (ISRDP) nodes (selected poorest district municipalities (DMs)) from 2001 to 2011 as measured through housing, water, electricity for cooking, heating and lighting, sanitation, refuse removal and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) service indices.The relevance of this is that municipalities are tasked to provide these essential services to South African residents.Subsequently, a three-way mixed-model Analysis of Variances (ANOVAs) was calculated in finding if statistically significant changes took place for the six service delivery indices.The provision of Free Basic Services (FBS) to poor households (indigent) was also looked at.The results indicate that great strides have been made in the 10 years (2001 to 2011) in terms of providing different services to households in the nodes.Central Karoo District Municipality (DM)appears to be the best for all the service delivery indices with the exception of ICT services.John Taolo Gaetsewe DM follows for housing, water, electricity and ICT services.Greater Sekhukhune DM is also doing well with housing, so as Chris Hani DM with water.Joe Gqabi DM is doing better with the provision of sanitation and refuse removal.Ugu DM is appearing better with the ICT services after John Taolo Gaetsewe DM.In contrast, Alfred Nzo DM seems to be the worst performer for most of the delivery indices followed by O.R. Tambo DM.Greater Sekhukhune DM is doing badly in terms of sanitation and refuse provision.Umkhanyakude DM is not performing well when it comes to electricity distribution.The housing service delivery index is doing well in most of the ISRDP nodes except for O.R. Tambo and Alfred Nzo.Most nodes seem to be struggling in registering the indigent households, let alone providing the necessary services to these indigents.This is revealed by the small percentage of indigent households over the total number of households in the nodes.All of the above-mentioned results thus point towards only significant improvements in service delivery indices for the majority of the nodes.Significant policy implications are proposed for policymakers to consider.