Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review

ISSN: (Online) 2310-2152, (Print) 2310-2195

Page 1 of 10 Original Research

Governance challenges in the provision of municipal

services in the Vhembe District Municipality

Authors: Background: The local communities judge their municipalities’ performance through the
Takalani N. Mudzusi1 provision of municipal services and the treatment that they get from its officials. The challenge
Pandelani H. Munzhedzi1
Ephraim Mahole1 of governance adversely affects the delivery of municipal services. However, it appears that
municipalities are failing their respective local communities.
Affiliations:
1
Department of Public and Aim: The article seeks to assess the challenges experienced by the Vhembe District Municipality
Development Administration, regarding governance practice in the provision of municipal services.
Faculty of Management,
Commerce and Law, Setting: It is important for the municipality to adhere to good governance practices, which
University of Venda, ultimately manifests through effective and efficient municipal service delivery.
Thohoyandou, South Africa
Methods: The article employed a mixed-method approach that comprised quantitative and
Corresponding author: qualitative research methodologies. Data were collected through closed-ended questionnaire
Pandelani Munzhedzi, and structured interviews. For data analysis, the article adopted statistical for quantitative
[Link]@[Link]
data and thematic content analysis for qualitative data.
Dates:
Results: The article found that poor efficiency for service to be delivered, a lack of accountability,
Received: 27 June 2023
Accepted: 18 Sept. 2023 shortage of machinery and equipment, dysfunctional implementation of policy framework,
Published: 14 Feb. 2024 poorly maintained infrastructures, a lack of responsiveness, a lack of requisite resources,
incompetent service providers and poor performance appraisals for municipal officials are
How to cite this article:
challenges faced by the Vhembe District Municipality in as far as municipal service provision
Mudzusi, T.N., Munzhedzi,
P.H. & Mahole, E., 2024, is concerned.
‘Governance challenges in
Conclusion: There are multiplicities of poor governance challenges that prohibit effective and
the provision of municipal
services in the Vhembe efficient municipal service delivery.
District Municipality’, Africa’s
Public Service Delivery and Contribution: As a measure to address these challenges, it is recommended that municipalities
Performance Review 12(1), must ensure that there are improved accountability mechanisms, infrastructures should
a749. [Link] always be maintained, and municipal officials should be equipped with skills and technical
10.4102/apsdpr.v12i1.749 know-how to effectively implement policy framework.
Copyright: Keywords: governance; good governance; municipality; public; service delivery.
© 2024. The Authors.
Licensee: AOSIS. This work
is licensed under the
Creative Commons Introduction
Attribution License.
The year 1994 marked the beginning of South Africa’s democratic regime, which brought new
social, economic, demographic, cultural and political orders. The transfer of power to government
and the public’s trust in it following the first free and transparent election in 1994 gave South
Africa fresh reasons to be hopeful about its future progress and good governance (Thebe 2017).
Many legislative and regulatory actions were implemented after the country’s Constitution of the
Republic of South Africa (RSA) was approved in 1996 to set the foundation for a morally upstanding
and honest administration of government, with the Batho Pele tenets acting as the cornerstone.
By consulting, establishing service standards, enhancing access, assuring courtesy, giving
information, openness and transparency, redress, and offering value for money, Batho Pele aims to
provide the foundation for effective and good governance (Department of Public Services and
Administration 1997). The government has been working hard to address many of the problems
that affect all spheres of government, as well as to encourage strategic and tactical planning and
the application of good governance (Mantzaris & Pillay 2014). Participation, a focus on consensus
orientation, the rule of law, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, effectiveness and
Read online: efficiency, equity and inclusion are qualities of good governance (Munzhedzi & Makwembere
Scan this QR 2019; Prinsloo 2013). The concepts of good governance are supported by the Constitution of the
code with your
smart phone or Republic of South Africa 1996 (henceforth referred to as 1996 Constitution), which also emphasises
mobile device
to read online. Note: Please be aware that this manuscript has been reissued in Volume 12, 2024, as part of a Special Collection on Social Economic
Transformation in a Dynamic World. It was erroneously assigned and published in Volume 11, 2023, initially.

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 Page 2 of 10 Original Research

the significance of good governance as a crucial component exist (Mafunisa & Xaba 2008; Munzhedzi 2020). It is clear that
for effective and successful government. Sections 152(1) (a) there is still a lot that needs to be performed regarding the
and (b) of the 1996 Constitution makes the provision for adherence of good governance practices in the Vhembe
democratic and responsible local government as well as District Municipality. A district municipality is responsible
sustainable service delivery to local communities. The for rendering many services including but not limited to
commitment to accountability, responsiveness, openness and potable water supply, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal
transparency, as well as principles and values are underlined sites, municipal health services, fire-fighting services,
in the 1996 Constitution and are linked to the adherence of cemeteries and crematoria.
good governance. There are many scholars who have
discussed these principles including Gaghman (2020) and The fundamental aim of this study is to examine the
Council of Europe (2022). There are three different spheres of challenges experienced by the Vhembe District Municipality
government in South Africa, namely national, provincial and regarding governance practices in the provision of municipal
local. Through established municipalities, local government services, with a purpose of recommending corrective
provides services to local communities on behalf of the state. measures. In investigating the challenges experienced by the
According to the 1996 Constitution, municipalities are Vhembe District Municipality regarding good governance,
required to provide essential municipal services such as the following question has been raised:
water, sanitation, refuse removal, electricity, municipal • What are the challenges experienced by the Vhembe
health services, municipal roads and storm water drainage to District Municipality regarding good governance
local communities in their jurisdictions (RSA 1996). practices in the provision of municipal services?

According to the Vhembe District Municipality (2020), the The study could be of value to the Vhembe District
municipal values are responsibility, accountability, Municipality by providing a clear or better picture of the
development, ownership, responsiveness, democratic, challenges that the municipality is faced with regarding good
transparency, respect, economic prosperity, hospitality, caring, governance. The study will also benefit public policymakers
opportunity, pride and visionary. However, these values seem and committees responsible for ensuring good governance in
not to be well taken care of in most municipalities. Faranak the local sphere of government. The study findings will be of
et al. (2018) posit that indicators of a sound public benefit because the recommendations to curb those challenges
administration include responsiveness, effectiveness and will be outlined.
efficiency to the needs of the people. However, when it comes
to municipalities, responding to the demands of the local
communities takes time.
Democratic theory
Democratic theory was co-founded by Mark Chou who was
To maximise the success of good governance, a municipality from the Australian Catholic University and Jean-Paul
should integrate principles such as accountability and Gagnon who originated from the University of Canberra. A
responsiveness and recognise that good governance is not democracy is a form of government in which supreme
just about meeting compliance requirements with legislations, authority is given to the people and can be exercised by
regulation and codes of practice. Nzimakwe (2005) asserts people either directly or indirectly through various forms of
that politicians, officials, business people and members of representation (Fox & Meyer 1995:35). According to Lindell
civil society should declare that good governance is the only and Scott (1999), democracy has originated from the Greek
viable choice or the only alternative available. For years, only word ‘demokratia’, which means ‘rule of the people’ and is
few municipalities received clean audit. Only 16% of South coined from ‘demos’ ‘people’ and ‘kratos’ ‘power’ or ‘rule’.
Africa’s 257 municipalities obtained clean audit by the One cannot talk about good governance and leave out
Auditor-General for the 2020–2021 financial year (Auditor- democracy. Democracy and good governance are like two
General of South Africa 2021). Auditor-General indicated inseparable twins. According to Ogundiya (2010:204), an
that audit outcomes were in a bad state when the previous inseparable connection exists between democracy and good
administration took over in 2016–2017 and this state had not governance because both concepts are based on almost the
improved since then. This proves that there was poor same principles. Both democracy and good governance should
governance by the management of these municipalities. be more responsive to the demands and pressures from citizens.
Democracy, according to governance theorists, is a necessary
Municipalities in South Africa have continuously battled tool for good governance (Mafunisa & Dzengwa 2007).
with the challenge of service delivery. Many municipalities
are unable to spend monies allocated to them, which leads to Nazarov and Obydenkova (2021) indicate that democracy is
unfinished projects that have been budgeted for (Munzhedzi typically linked to greater transparency, independent and
2013). Therefore, the ability of local government structures to critical media, better public policy decisions, better access to
deliver fundamental services that are in line with the education, information and healthcare facilities, lower levels
requirements and preferences of local communities must be of corruption and an overall higher standard of living. These
used to evaluate the success of good governance. The elements might lead to better service delivery. The general
majority of the Vhembe District Municipality’s jurisdictional welfare of the society and, more specifically, the provision of
territory is rural, and rural basic service delivery backlogs public services are positively impacted by democracy.

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Unpacking concept of good hand with one another. Good governance has the ability to
strengthen the principles of democracy. The importance of
governance good governance includes wide public participation, greater
According to Pasape, Anderson and Lindi (2015:147), there is access to democracy, and proper delivery of service and
no universal definition of good governance because it control of corruption. According to the UN (2007:9), good
depends on what the organisation considers important governance encourages public participation in government,
features or attributes. Accountability, efficiency and inclusion in law making and policymaking, and accountability
effectiveness, responsiveness, transparency, forward vision of elected and appointed officials. It enables the society to
and the rule of law are all characteristics of good governance become actively involved in public policymaking and leads to
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development wide representation of societal interests in decision making.
[OECD] 2009:4). Similar to the OECD, the UNDP (1997a:4) According to Erasmus (2010:98), good governance forces the
emphasised accountability, transparency, rule of law, state to carry out its duties or engage in its activities with the
effectiveness and efficiency, and responsiveness, as well as primary goal of achieving and upholding transparency,
features of consensus and participation. Good governance is predictability, a culture of justification of state action, and
defined by the African Development Bank (ADB) (2008:15) as assurance. In terms of supporting ethical decision making,
accountability, transparency, involvement, fighting corruption good governance is fundamental because it facilitates ethical
and promoting an enabling legal and judicial environment. decision making. When elected officials and council officers
Accountability, participation, predictability and transparency make choices, good governance creates an environment in
are four concepts advocated by the Asian Development Bank which they question themselves ‘what is the right thing to
(1995:8) to characterise good governance. According to the do?’ Making decisions and having to account for them in a
European Union (EU) (2001:8), good governance is defined by clear and open manner encourage honest consideration and
five principles: transparency, accountability, effectiveness,
examination of the options available to individuals involved
coherence and participation. The United Cities and Local
in the governance process (International Federation of
Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) (2021) shared eight
Accountants [IFAC] 2013). When implemented by an
principles of good governance as participation, rule of law,
institution, whether public or private, good governance offers
transparency, responsiveness, consensus oriented, equity and
numerous advantages. Mlangwa (2016) outlined the following
inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, and accountability.
advantages or benefits of good governance in the public
sector:
According to scholars such as Sayeed and Pillay (2012:3),
good governance refers to the degree of accountability, moral • Economic growth and development is one of the key
standards and responsiveness of the government to the needs benefits of good governance because it secures the
of its citizens. According to Erasmus (2010:98), good following outcome in practice: corruption is reduced
governance forces the government to carry out its duties or through competent and good governance. Because one of
engage in its activities with the primary goal of attaining and the pillars of good governance is battling corruption,
preserving openness, predictability, a culture of justification corruption is unlikely to exist where there is good
of government action and assurance. This concept has been governance. Corruption is fundamentally opposed to
raised frequently in modern public management, but it has good governance, which is why if an institution or state
been neglected in the municipal sector. Scholars such as Juiz, practices good governance, corruption is likely to be
Guerrero and Lera (2014:11) define good governance as a decreased or eliminated completely.
process in which the public sector is pressured to enhance • Accountability is influenced by good governance. People
performance, be transparent and effectively combat must accept responsibility for their acts and for what they
corruption. Predictable, open and enlightened policymaking; have done in order to be held accountable. It is easier for
a bureaucracy equipped with a professional culture; an people to fulfil duties as expected when they are held
executive arm of government accountable for its actions; and accountable for their actions or activities, which will lead
a vibrant civil society participating in public affairs and all to improved performance of the institution, improved
behaving under the rule of law should be what defines governance and beneficial consequences.
government including that of South Africa (Kulshreshtha • Transparency is another benefit of good governance.
2008:557). For the purpose of this article, an amended Openness is inextricably linked to excellent governance,
definition by the UNDP (1997c:4) that emphasised and this aids in the performance of duties significantly.
accountability, transparency, rule of law, effectiveness and • Good governance ensures people participation in decision
efficiency, responsiveness and transparency, equity and making and promotes equity in society, allowing the
inclusivity, consensus and participation is adopted. entire society to see itself as one. This will aid in the
delivery of services being deployed more quickly.
The importance of good governance
Good governance is very beneficial and important more
in South African municipalities specifically in the local sphere of government. Many of the
Good governance is essential in a democratic country like challenges that the sphere is confronted with may be
South Africa. Good governance and democracy go hand in sufficiently addressed by applying the good governance

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principles. Munzhedzi (2021) posit that it is only unfortunate • Insufficient or unbalanced operational budget to deliver
that many of the municipalities in South Africa do not fully services
apply the good governance principles. • Ineffective management and incapacity to regulate
workflow to the needs of the service
The concept of municipal service • Insufficient personnel and/or improper staffing schedules
(Tana 2013; Yu 2018).
delivery in South Africa
According to Maseko (2018:27), service delivery refers to a Service users may experience increased stress levels,
government or government entity delivering goods or frustration and anxiety because of these factors, with poor
services to a group of people or community in a way that was efficiency being the worst for the service to be rendered.
promised to or demanded by that community. Municipal Often, members of the local communities with little or no
service delivery is described by Mfene (2009) as an all- information provided with the reason why the service is
encompassing activity intended to promote the overall delayed or not provided at all.
welfare of the community. Batho Pele service delivery
principles are outlined in the White Paper on Transforming Shortage of machinery and equipment
Public Service Delivery of 1997 to ensure efficient service According to Mokoena (2017), shortage of material resources,
delivery. These guidelines now serve as the benchmark for equipment and supplies causes local communities to have to
judging whether municipal service delivery is successful or wait way longer for the service to be offered to them.
unsuccessful (Nengwekhulu 2009). Municipal service According to Manyisa and Van Aswegen (2017), the lack of
delivery is highly politicised in South Africa, as claimed by administrative equipment such as water and electric billing
McLennan (2009) as it exemplifies some of the inconsistencies equipment has a negative impact on the quality of service
of the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy. provided by the municipality. It is imperative that there be
Municipal service delivery has a broader meaning because it adequate resources available to ensure effective management
is connected to development, righting historical wrongs, and delivery of service to the respective local communities
reducing poverty and fostering economic progress (McLennon (Kwizera, Dunser & Nakibuuka 2012).
2009). According to Schedule 5 of the 1996 Constitution’s part B,
the provision of water, electricity, sanitation, refuse removal, Dysfunctional implementation of policy
housing and other services constitutes the provision of basic framework
services (which includes education, health, roads, transport,
Chukwuemeka (2018) asserts that the main activity of public
sports and recreation, street trading, parks and community
administration is to implement public policies and
halls). An excellent reputation is built by the delivery of high-
programmes; hence, the government relies on public
quality services, which is the duty of municipal institution to
administration institutions to provide services to the people.
their local communities.
Mugwagwa (2015) is of the view that there are various
policies and strategies governing public institutions
Challenges experienced by the including municipalities. However, the implementation of
South African municipalities in the these policies and strategies is generally rated as being poor.
provision of municipal services Mugwagwa (2015) further states that the cause of the
dysfunctional implementation of policy framework includes
Literature reviewed posits that municipalities in South Africa lack of coherent policy, lack of enforcement and accountability
are said to be faced with various challenges that impede the mechanism. It has been maintained for many years that one
provision, progress and improvement of municipal services. of the primary cause of policies failing to produce the desired
The following are challenges experienced by the results is implementation failure (Tebele 2016; Uwizeyimana
municipalities in the provision of municipal services and will & Munzhedzi 2022). An argument that frequently appears in
be discussed as follows. South Africa is that effective policies are created but never
put into practice. According to Meyer and Cloete (2006), poor
Poor efficiency implementation has been a significant barrier to advancement
Poor efficiency in as far as receiving of services in the South in developing nations. The government is adamant that the
African municipalities is a major challenge. The prolonged framework for the policies is clear and well defined and
waiting time reduces the quality of the service and absence of that what is required is their efficient implementation.
good governance. Tana (2013) states that waiting times do Unfortunately, the implementation of policies such as the
not seem to be unique to the South African context. Developed municipal budget, integrated development plans and by-
and underdeveloped countries share this inability to resolve laws is more difficult than how well the administration is
the problems, which results in service users experiencing thought to be doing. One of the main concerns is the
services as lacking in quality. Tana (2013) and Yu (2018) implementation of policy, namely how it can be carried out
shared some causes of poor efficiency in the South African effectively and who should be in charge of it (Meyer &
municipalities including the following: Cloete 2006).

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Poorly maintained infrastructure(s) TABLE 1: Sample size of the Vhembe District Municipality.
Respondents Number of sampling size
Numerous municipalities struggle to run and maintain their Integrated Development Plan officials 10
service infrastructures in a way that is both economical and Performance Management System officials 10
long-lasting (Appelbaum, Habashy & Malo 2012). Most Local Economic Development officials 10
municipalities’ technical departments’ present infrastructure Community development officials 10
PR councillors 10
life cycle is a result of failing to follow health and safety
Administrative officials and managers 10
regulations (Jaaskelainen & Lonnqvist 2011). As a result of the
complete lack of routine to preventative maintenance, the
existing infrastructure life cycle situation might be characterised Structured questionnaire with close-ended questions and
as ‘run to destruction’ with the tragic result of early asset interview comprising open-ended questions were employed
collapse. Downstream blockages, clogged pump impellors to collect data from the IDP officials, LED officials, PMS
and eventual mechanical breakdowns occur as a result of officials, and administrative officials and managers as well as
failure to remove screens at sewer pump stations and at the PR councillors. Statistical and thematic analyses were used to
analyse collected data. The information gathered through the
inlets of wastewater treatment works (De Vries & Nemec
questionnaire was analysed using Microsoft Excel and shown
2013). When sewer obstructions are not addressed in a timely
as tables, graphs, frequencies and percentages, and thematic
manner, raw sewage is released into delicate natural
analysis was used to analyse the interview data. Out of 50
environments.
questionnaires, only 40 responded to the questionnaire
because of the fact that the remaining few respondents did
Poor responsiveness by municipal officials not want to participate and availability of municipal officials
Municipal officials do not respond to queries on time and the 10 PR councillors were interviewed for the purpose
(Munzhedzi & Phago 2020). For instance, unattended water of this article.
pipe breaches result in significant water loses and prolonged
water supply outages. Water purification chemicals are Data presentation, interpretation
frequently in short supply at remote water treatment plants and analysis
because of supply chain bottlenecks, resulting in low-quality
The main aim of this article, which was developed from a
drinking water (De Vries & Nemec 2013).
master’s research work, was to seek to assess the challenges
experienced by the Vhembe District Municipality regarding
Research methodology governance practices in the provision of municipal services.
Bryman (2012) states that research design is a strategy This section presents, interprets and analyses quantitative
outlining the steps that will be taken to address the research and qualitative data collected from the selected respondents.
question. This article used descriptive research design to aid These good governance challenges are discussed in detail
in generating quantitative and qualitative data in order to next in relation to the provision of municipal services in the
examine the challenges experienced by the Vhembe District Vhembe District Municipality.
Municipality regarding good governance practice in
The respondents were surveyed to determine whether the
provision of municipal services. This empirical article
municipality faces challenges related to the length of time
employed mixed research method. The term ‘mixed research
local communities must wait for municipal services to be
method’ refers to the utilisation of both qualitative and
provided to their respective communities. Figure 1 shows
quantitative research techniques (Maree 2013). According to
that majority of 26 (65%) respondents strongly agreed, 12
Kgwefane (2014:62), a population can be defined as the entire
(30%) respondents agreed, 2 (5%) respondents are not sure
set of people or groups from which a sample is drawn. For
and none of the respondents neither disagreed nor strongly
the purposes of this article, the researchers target population
disagreed that prolonged wait times for local communities to
are the administrative and political municipal officials of the
receive services are a challenge. A lack of resources may also
Vhembe District Municipality. The Vhembe District
cause the municipality not to respond or deliver municipal
Municipality is one of the five district municipalities in the
services to the local communities on time. Ekundayo
Limpopo province, which is in the most northern tip of South
(2017:156) states that in order to be responsive, institutional
Africa. It shares its borders with Mopani and Capricorn
procedures must provide timely assistance to all the affected
districts, respectively. It is a gateway to Zimbabwe through
community members. The ability of the municipality to
N1. It has four local municipalities, namely Makhado,
respond as required by good governance allows it to provide
Musina, Thulamela and Collins Chabane. The number of
services to all stakeholders in a timely manner.
individuals from which researcher acquires necessary
information is referred to as the sample size (Kumar 2014). A
sample size of 60 was taken based on stratified random Service delivery accountability
sampling adopted, as shown in Table 1. The sample is from The respondents were asked as to whether accountability
the entirety of the district including its four district when delivering municipal service is also a challenge faced
municipalities. by the municipality. Figure 2 indicates that majority of 22

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TABLE 2: Shortage of machinery and equipment.

1. Strongly agree (65%)
Responses Frequency Percentage (%)
2. Agree (30%)
3. Not sure (5%) Strongly agree 28 70
4. Disagree (0%) Agree 08 20
5. Strongly disagree (0%) Not sure 02 05
Disagree 02 05
3 Strongly disagree 0 0
Total 40 100

been used. When the municipality fails to provide certain

2 service to the people, a reason should be provided. The
functioning of the municipality like any government
institution is about making decision. The process of making
decision should be open to scrutiny and transparent.
Municipal officials should be accountable for their actions
and inactions.

Availability of machinery and equipment to

deliver service
1 Respondents were asked if there are sufficient machinery
and equipment to deliver basic municipal services. Table 2
indicates that shortage of machinery and equipment
FIGURE 1: Level of efficiency.
contributes negatively to municipal service delivery. Majority
of 28 (70%) respondents strongly agreed, followed by 8 (20%)
respondents who agreed that shortage of machinery and
1. Strongly agree (55%)
2. Agree (30%)
equipment contribute negatively to municipal service
3. Not sure (10%) delivery. It is only 2 (5%) respondents who are not sure and 2
4. Disagree (5%) (5%) respondents disagreed. None of the respondents
5. Strongly disagree (0%)
strongly disagreed that shortage of machinery and equipment
4 hinders effective municipal service delivery. From the given
analysis, it can be said that lack of resources is one of the
3
barriers of good governance and service delivery in local
government. Without sufficient resources, it would be
impossible for the municipality to operate effectively. If
resources are not sufficient, the municipality will not be able
to deliver expected municipal services to the people and that
compromises good governance. The collected data concur
with the literature that many municipalities in South Africa
lack requisite machinery and equipment such as graders and
tractor-loader backhoe (TLB) to provide certain municipal
2
services.

Dysfunctional implementation of policy

1
framework
Figure 3 presents data on the dysfunctional implementation
of policy framework as a challenge faced by the municipality.
FIGURE 2: Accountability.
It shows that 20 (50%) respondents strongly agreed, 14 (35%)
respondents agreed and 6 (15%) respondents are not sure
(55%) respondents strongly agreed, 12 (30%) respondents
that policy implementation does affect delivery of service.
agreed, 4 (10%) respondents are not sure and 2 (5%)
There were no respondents who neither disagreed nor
respondents disagreed about challenge of accountability
strongly disagreed that dysfunctional implementation of
when delivering service to the people. There was no policy framework is a challenge faced by the municipality.
respondent who strongly disagreed on the question posed. It South Africa is one of the countries that have good policies;
therefore means that the data correspond with the literature however, problem arises when it is time for implementation
that there is a lack of accountability in the municipality. (Tebele 2016; Uwizeyimana & Munzhedzi 2022). Many good
Accountability focuses on the ability to account for action or policies exist in the South African municipalities, but these
inaction by the officials such as how the budget allocated has policies are often not fully implemented. Annual reviews of

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1. Strongly agree (50%) 1. Strongly agree (45%)

2. Agree (35%) 2. Agree (30%)
3. Not sure (15%) 3. Not sure (5%)
4. Disagree (0%) 4. Disagree (20%)
5. Strongly disagree (0%) 5. Strongly disagree (0%)

3 4

2
1

FIGURE 3: Policy implementation framework. FIGURE 5: Response rate of municipal officials.

service delivery projects on time set because of poorly

35
maintained infrastructure. It causes a backlog of infrastructure
Percentage of respondents

30
extensions and improvements. The municipality also has to
25 deal with everyday incidents of illegal connections, like those
20 for electricity and water. Infrastructure renovations and
15
additions in the municipality are not completed on schedule
because of shortage of staff and finance.
10

5
Response rate by the municipal officials
0
Strongly Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly The respondents were asked as to whether municipal officials
agree disagree
do not respond to queries on time. Figure 5 provides that 18
Indicaon of state of infrastructure
(45%) respondents strongly agreed, 12 (30%) respondents
FIGURE 4: Poor infrastructure. agreed, 8 (20%) respondents disagreed, 2 (5%) are not sure
and there were no respondents who strongly disagreed that
municipal regulations are required to make sure they are user queries are not responded to by the municipal officials. The
friendly and appropriate for their intended usage. If a government officials are obliged to put people first. Municipal
programme, strategy or initiative does not address the institutions exist for local communities and hence they
demands and priorities set forth by the citizens, it risks should make them a ‘priority’. In essence, local communities
failure. A good policy means nothing if it does not achieve should be at the centre of municipal service delivery. The
desired results. many complaints in the local sphere of government about
low response rate are an evidence that local communities
Poorly maintained infrastructure have issues with how their complaints are addressed.
Figure 4 presents the data on whether poorly maintained
infrastructure has an effect on municipal service delivery and Analysis of data collected through
makes the local communities to complain. It shows that interview
majority of 32 (80%) respondents strongly agreed and 8 (20%)
respondents agreed that poorly maintained infrastructure This section discusses the qualitative component of the article
has a negative effect on municipal service provision, which collected through interviews with the PR councillors. The
makes the public to complain. None of the respondents focus was on challenges experienced by the Vhembe District
indicated not sure, disagree and strongly disagree respectively Municipality regarding governance practices as far as good
that poorly maintained infrastructure has an effect on governance and municipal service are concerned. The
municipal service delivery and make the local communities responses that were captured through the interview process
to complain. Contractors struggle to finish the municipal are described as follows.

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 Page 8 of 10 Original Research

Participants replied that: people. This has an implication on good governance in the
‘lack of requisite resources is a challenge that also affects the good sense that accountability is at the core of it. The study found
work that is being performed by the officials within the Vhembe that 70% of the respondents strongly agreed, followed by
District Municipality’. (Participant A, Female, 51 years), 20% of respondents who agreed, leading to 90% that shortage
(Participant E, Male, 39 years) of machinery and equipment contributes negatively to
municipal service delivery. Fifty percent of respondents
Regarding the issue of municipal service delivery and strongly agree and 35% respondents agree that dysfunctional
governance challenges, participants stated that: implementation of policy framework is a challenge faced by
‘there are no adequate resources to deliver services to all local the municipality. It has been found that majority of (80%)
communities within the Vhembe District Municipality’. respondents strongly agree and 8 (20%) respondents agree
(Participant G, Male, 44 years) that poorly maintained infrastructure makes the local
communities to complain for unrendered municipal services.
Participant G along with participant B, D and F agreed on the Forty-five percent of respondents strongly agree and 30%
following: respondents agree that municipal officials do not respond to
‘for that reason, it often leads to service delivery backlogs or queries on time.
services not to be rendered at all’. (Participant G, Male, 44 years)
From the interviews that were conducted to determine the
Participant indicated that: challenges faced by the Vhembe District Municipality on
good governance and municipal service, the data revealed
‘unqualified employees are one of the challenges that the
Municipality is experiencing’. (Participant C, Female, 42 years)
that a lack of requisite resources is a challenge that also
affects the good work that is being performed by the officials
In responding, participants shared the same view and within the municipality. There are no adequate or enough
asserted that: resources to deliver municipal services to the local
communities within the Vhembe District Municipality. For
‘corruption is a challenge’; participant I went further and stated
that reason, it leads to late municipal service delivery or
that ‘tenders are given to incompetent service providers’.
(Participants H, Male, 41 years), (Participants I, Male, 44 years) services not to be rendered at all. Unqualified employees are
one of the challenges that the municipality is experiencing
Participant shared that: because tenders are given to incompetent service providers.
Project takes time to be completed as incompetent service
‘[P]oor performance appraisal among municipal employees is
providers are given tenders, which hinder the delivery of
also a challenge. Necessary trainings are not provided to those
who are found to be lacking skills and capacity in terms of service to the people. It is further found that poor performance
the performance management system.’ (Participant J, Female, appraisal among municipal employees is also a challenge.
45 years) Necessary trainings are not provided to those who are found
to be lacking skills and capacity in terms of the performance
From authors’ point of view, this is because of the fact that management system.
most projects take time to be completed or to be undertaken.
For example, Phiphidi Reservoir was planned to be completed Recommendations
around 2020. Even today (in 2023), it is not yet completed.
The article makes the following recommendations that can be
For that reason, the respondents feel that municipality hires
implemented by the Vhembe District Municipality and other
unqualified employees and tenders are given to incompetent
municipalities alike effectively addressing the challenges
service providers. As indicated by the collected data from the that the municipalities are confronted with to ensure good
respondents, corruption, poor planning, poor performance governance in the provision of municipal services:
appraisal, a lack of skills and capacity, and a lack of requisite
• The article recommends that there should be publicised
resources played a fundamental role. This is also supported
time frame set for municipal services to be delivered to
by Uwizeyimana and Munzhedzi (2022). Munzhedzi (2016)
local communities. This will ensure that municipal
concluded that in South Africa, municipal procurement and
officials are held to account on these known time frames.
corruption are like inseparable twins. In essence, corruption
• The municipality must ensure that there are improved
takes away monies meant for the provision of municipal
accountability mechanisms within municipalities as far
services to the pockets of the selected elites.
as rendering municipal services to the local communities
are concerned. For example, the municipal council and
Discussion of findings its committees must be capacitated to hold the executive
One of the main findings in the article is that 65% of the and administrators to account.
respondents strongly agree that prolonged waiting time for • There should be availability of machinery and equipment
municipal services to be delivered to local communities is a to deliver municipal service to local communities. This is
challenge faced by the municipality. Data collected show that because there cannot be effective provision of municipal
55% of the respondents strongly agree that there is a challenge services without requisite machinery and equipment.
of accountability when delivering municipal services to the Infrastructure should always be maintained, and that

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 Page 9 of 10 Original Research

regular maintenance should always be budgeted for. Ethical considerations

Municipality should also generate funds from rates and
Ethical clearance to conduct this study was obtained from the
taxes so that it can be able to sustain itself as provided for
University of Venda Research Ethics Social Sciences
by Section 152 of the 1996 Constitution.
Committee (RESSC) (No. FMCL/22/PDN/03/0405).
• Municipal officials should be equipped with skills and
technical know-how to effectively implement policy
framework. This will also address a challenge where Funding information
municipalities return a chunk of their budget to treasury This research received no specific grant from any funding
because they could not spend their allocated budget agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
accordingly. Qualified and experienced municipal
officials and service providers should also be appointed. Data availability
• Infrastructure should be maintained and the municipal
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of
officials must respond to queries of local communities
this study are available within the article and/or its
timeously.
supplementary materials.
• As far as shortage of machinery and equipment is
concerned, the article recommends that the municipality
should be able to use the existing machinery and Disclaimer
equipment that they already have and are able to service The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of
and maintain them so that they should not give them the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or
problems. position of any affiliated agency of the authors.
• Municipal officials should be rated on how fast they act to
assist the queries from the local communities. Monetary
incentives can also be implemented as a form of
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