Department of Public and Development Administration
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Browsing Department of Public and Development Administration by Author "Mafunisa, M. J."
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Item Open Access The effect of coalition government on municipal service delivery in the City of Tshwane(2023-10-05) Setona, Pheelo; Munzhedzi, P. H.; Mafunisa, M. J.The 2016 local government elections could not produce the outright winner with more than fifty percent of seats that required any political party to govern the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. In number of previous years, the City of Tshwane has been governed by solitary political party and has gotten used to singular arrangement. Subsequent to the failure of any political party to gain outright majority winner of seats to govern as a single party, the circumstances enforced political parties to form coalition government that empowered the Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties to be the governing coalition in the City of Tshwane since 2016 local government elections. This study sought to investigate the possible effect of coalition government on municipal service delivery with specific reference to the City of Tshwane. The study adopted the mixed method research. Quantitative data collection was obtained through 217 respondents who completed the closed-ended questionnaires. Qualitative data was gathered through interviewing 20 participants. The results confirmed that there was a unique and special type of coalition government at the City of Tshwane, as there was no party that managed to garner 51% or more to get a majority to take charge of the local government. The findings established that the Tshwane coalition government lacks effective municipal service delivery. Lack of capacity and skill development is also affecting the effectiveness of the coalition government. It is recommended that the City of Tshwane coalition government takes a sombre moment and reconsider its priorities so that effective municipal service delivery to the local communities who are adversely affected by lack of service delivery. There is a further need for the City of Tshwane to take a skills audit to determine the skills gaps that need to be filled that will assist in enhancing municipal service delivery mandate. Identification of the right skills and recruitment of the people with the requisite skills will go a long way towards the achievement of municipal service delivery at the City of Tshwane. The staff recruitment policy should be managed by professional people who can scout for the right talents that are capable to provide efficient and effective municipal service delivery to the local communities. Political interference and cadre deployment has always been debated as one of the challenges in most municipalities and should not be condoned as it affects the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of municipal services delivery at the City of Tshwane coalition government. Politicians are good at handling political issues and not administrative matters that result in good service delivery. Corrupt tendencies have a negative effect on municipal service delivery, and as such there is a need to put checks and balances to curb corruption in the City.Item Embargo Exploring the role of ethical governance in enhancing organisationa performance: the case of Collins Chabane Local Municpalty(2025-05-15) Chabalala, Rivalani Precious; Singo, T. A.; Mafunisa, M. J.This study used the Collins Chabane Local Municipality as a case study to investigate how ethical governance might improve organizational performance. As they work to create a service-oriented local government that upholds public trust, municipal administrators face more difficult moral conundrums. Almost every level of the public sector's service delivery has seen a decrease in ethical governance since the new democratic era in South Africa. According to the literature study, ethical problems that plague public organizations—such as a decline in work ethics, a lack of discipline, corruption, and inadequate control systems also affect municipalities, leading to subpar performance and low productivity. Additionally, the study looked at the ethical consciousness of municipal officials and how it affected their behavior. The study has used both a qualitative research approach and quantitative research approach. The Collins Chabane Local Municipality's local authorities were the target population. In this investigation, a purposive non-probability sampling strategy was used. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data. The researcher used statistical and thematic data analysis. The study's findings have shed light on tactics that should be used to encourage moral behavior in the municipality.Item Open Access Municipal service delivery challenges in a developmental local government context: the case of Vhembe District Municipality(2024-09-06) Nghonyama, Goodman; Sethu, M. J.; Mafunisa, M. J.This study focuses on municipal service delivery challenges in a developmental local government context: The case of Vhembe District Municipality. South African local government has experienced significant and far-reaching transformation in developmental local government. According to Sections 74(3) and 75(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (from now on referred to as the Constitution, 1996), local government is not only obliged to provide essential services but also to act as a development agent. This study used the pragmatic research method because it is often associated with mixed-methods or multiple-methods, where the focus is on the consequences of research and on the research questions rather than on the methods. This study used a descriptive research design which provides an opportunity to integrate the qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. This study applied mixed-method research where qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. The judgemental sampling method was used to select the study respondents. Research questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data for the study. This study used both statistical and thematic analysis for data analysis and presentation. Ethical considerations were followed before conducting the study. The main findings of this study indicates that the municipal service delivery challenges in a developmental local government were municipal capacity constraints, financial viability problems, service delivery protests, convoluted political processes, corruption, and poor planning. The main recommendations based on the findings are that the municipality provide community awareness and the strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges of developmental local government on service delivery, within the Vhembe District Municipality.Item Embargo Proposing a framework for enhancing good governance in the Limpopo Provincial Government: the case of the Department of Health and Education(2025-09-05) Nkwinika, Miyelani Kulani Kelvin; Mafunisa, M. J.; Nekhavhambe, M. M.The aim of the research was to propose a framework for improving good governance within the Limpopo Provincial Government, specifically, in the Health and Education Departments. The investigation aimed to assess whether the existing policy framework supports good governance and is advantageous for government institutions, by strengthening the public administration ethos and advocating for best practices, to create a state that is effective, efficient, accountable, and transparent. The Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), in its national and provincial audit report for the 2021/2022 financial year, expressed concern over the high levels of corruption within the South African government. Additionally, the AGSA highlighted issues of ineffective governance and incompetence within the Limpopo Departments of Health and Education, which continue to receive qualified audit opinions and clearly show evidence of fruitless and irregular expenditure; consequently, the researcher chose these two departments as case studies. Financial challenges in government continue to be a concern, post the attainment of democracy in 1994. During the 2023 budget speech for Vote 5, the former MEC for the Provincial Treasury in Limpopo, Honourable Seaparo Sekoati, confirmed that both the Health and Education departments had received qualified audits for the 2021/2022 financial year. The research utilised a case study research design as its chosen methodology, hence, in the case study framework organised and structured the processes involved in data collection. This research employed a qualitative research approach, this approach proved effective as it enhanced understanding through an informative and naturalistic exploration of the topic under investigation. Participants were selected using purposive sampling to recruit individuals who can provide valuable insights necessary for the analysis and interpretation of data in this study. Purposive sampling intentionally selects individuals, groups, and organizations to provide critical information that might not be available from participants selected from other sampling methods. The study noted the non-adherence to the law, ineffective security systems in vetting of government employees, poor planning and coordination as well as lack of district and management support to be key factors that affects the state of governance in both the departments. vi The study recommends that the Limpopo provincial government should draft a provincial policy that prevents the interference of the Premier, MECs, Director-Generals and HODs on programmes that do not require their personal participation, such as supply chain management processes, project management, and audit steering committees. The study also recommends that the upgrading of the security vetting system should be enhanced to detect any irregularities, such as fake qualifications, criminal records or dismissal records in respect of officials within the public service. Furthermore, the study also recommends that the two departments, Health and Education, need to consult with various stakeholders, such as the Department of Public Service and Administration and the National Treasury on whether, the Performance Management Policy can be amended to ensure that any employee who does not achieve his/her Key Performance Targets in the responsibilities assigned to him or her should be made to account to the employer. This will assist in addressing challenge of non-implementation of the departmental policies and other key legislations that seek to enhance good governance by intensifying service delivery in communities. This research is unique as it aims not only to articulate challenges to good governance but to also suggest a Framework that would enhance good governance in the public service with reference to the Limpopo provincial government.Item Open Access The role of code of conduct in enhancing service delivery in local government with specific reference to Mopani District Municipality(2023-10-05) Mbedzi, Langanani; Mahole, N. E.; Mafunisa, M. J.This study focuses on the role of code of conduct in enhancing basic service delivery in local government with specific reference to Mopani District Municipality. The deontological theory will be adopted to emphasise adherence to rules regardless of consequences or motives behind the action. The theories of virtue, deontology and teleology were selected in this study to try to understand the concept of ethics and its relevance to answer the research questions developed in this research. Theories are helpful in predicting and explaining phenomena, such as why people behave the way they do. Regulatory framework, on the other hand, serves as the fundamental basis for reasoning or action. There are various manifestations of unethical conduct in local public administration and these manifestations include corruption, bribe, nepotism and favouritism, fraud, poor public accountability and kickback. South Africa is characterised by various causes of unethical conduct in local public administration. These causes are psychological causes, deficient control and accountability, complex legislation, inadequate procedures and manuals, deficient management and organisation. The Batho-Pele White Paper (1997) principles identify several Batho-Pele principles. Batho-Pele principles include redress and value for money. The study describes various legislative and policy frameworks governing local public administration. The legislative and policy framework include, Batho-Pele White Paper (1997), Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, and the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003. The study adopted mixed methods approach to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon being studied. Mixed methods give a voice to study participants and ensure that study findings are grounded in participants’ experiences. The study uses research paradigm which is guided by pragmatism. The study focuses on pragmatic research paradigms amongst others namely post positivism, constructivist, participatory and pragmatism. The study uses descriptive statistics and thematic analysis to analyse data. The study describes all the processes of ethical consideration in the research ethics having knowledge and understanding that respondent’s participation in research must be done voluntarily without any harm. The research revealed that leadership seems to play a more significant role in influencing the behaviour of municipal officials, than the rules or codes of conduct of a municipality. The study recommends a properly institutionalized of code of conduct to be developed for guiding the municipality’s ethics performance. vi Findings of the research study The study findings revealed that majority of the respondents at 181 (95,2%) agreed that there are adequate controls to ensure that municipal officials comply with policies and procedure in the municipality. The study further confirms that most of the respondents at 175 (92,1%) of the respondents agreed with the statement that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 encourages the action of municipal officials to be in line with the values and principle of public administration. Majority of the respondents at 166 (87,4%) agreed that challenges facing local municipalities need to be evaluated to check if they are yielding desired results. The study found that 115 (81,6%) of respondents agreed that existing code of conduct needs to be revised. The findings revealed that mechanisms should be developed in an ethical manner that are reflected in different ways, such as compliance to rules and laws, desisting from fraud, theft, corruption and abuse of leadership authority. The study findings revealed that appointing an ethics officer is one of the effective strategies for enhancing ethical conduct in the municipality, an important mechanism that is adhered to at the Mopani district municipalities. The findings revealed that municipal officials are aware of the manual code of conduct in place. The researcher found that corruption is the main issue that leads to unethical challenges confronting municipalities in enhancing basic service delivery in the municipality. Recommendations of the research study It was recommended that code of conduct approaches should be aimed at enhancing basic service delivery in the municipality, the training of municipal officials should emphasize innovativeness and the importance of values. Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) stipulates that South African local government does not have an official code of conduct as a separate document for ethical conduct. This is not conducive to ethics being taken seriously at local government sphere. The researcher sees a need for a separate code of conduct to be established, formulated and emphasised. It was established that political instability, lack of skilled workforce and corruption within the municipality exacerbate poor service delivery resulting to people’s suffering. It was recommended that municipal officials should do what is in the best interest of the public to ensure public accountability. It was recommended that municipal officials should act ethically all times. It was recommended that promised standard of services should be delivered. It was recommended that there should be plans for service delivery to avoid community protests on basic service delivery. The researcher recommends that leaders need to be trained and encouraged to create strong ethical cultures within the municipality.Item Embargo The assessment of the role of Vhembe District Municipality in the provision o water resources: the case of Mphambo Community(2025-09-05) Ngonyama, Tatani; Mafunisa, M. J.; Mahole, E.The study aimed at assessing the role of Vhembe District Municipality in the provision of water services at Mphambo Community. The Free Basic Water Policy of 2002, which seeks to address poverty and affordable access to basic water service to the indigent, requires that all municipalities should provide at least 25 litres of free basic water to poor persons within 200 meters of where the person resides and at a flow rate of at least 10 litres per minute. The study used a prospective mixed method research design, in which primary data was collected from 100 Mphambo community members and 50 municipal workers using a questionnaire and interviews. Collected data was coded, captured, and cleaned before subjecting it to rigorous statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics, figures and tables were used to describe and understand data. The study produced results that summarises the relationships between water service provision related variables and socio-demographic variables. In particular, the analysis of water services provision data will help in exposing the relationship between dependent variable and several independent variables e.g., gender, age, participant type (community member or municipal worker). The strategies and the recommendations from this study will help to improve the provision of water services by the Municipality to the communities. The study will also assist the local government sector in ensuring the importance of working closely with communities to deliver the water services to the communities.