The role of performance, monitoring and evaluation within municipal service delivery: A case study of Capricorn District Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This research study is about the role of performance, monitoring and evaluation on municipal service delivery in the Capricorn District Municipality, Limpopo Province. The performance, monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) is used by the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to track service delivery progress by local government. The notion of PM&E was introduced by Cabinet in 2011. The introduction of government-wide monitoring and evaluation (GWM&E) as a policy framework has contributed towards the improvement of PM&E on municipal service delivery. The study used mixed research methods, where qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. A pragmatic research paradigm was used as a philosophical partner for the mixed research methods. The study employed a narrative exploratory research design and a descriptive research design. Purposive sampling method was used as a sub-type of non-probability to select the participants of the study and interviews and questionnaires were utilised to collect data. Data collected through the questionnaires was analysed through International Business Machinery (IBM): Statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) latest version; the results were presented in the form of tables, with frequencies and percentage, followed by a synthesis of information. The researcher also applied a thematic-narrative data analysis approach, which focuses on a variety of procedures for interpreting research data. Outlined also were the research ethical guidelines that informed this study. The key finding of the research study was that the PM&E systems have failed to serve their purposes, chiefly due to lack of implementation of policies and corruption among officials. The study also revealed that majority of respondents, 43 (38%), disagree that senior managers understand the role of PM&E on municipal service delivery, thus, this did not influence their decision-making processes on municipal service delivery. The research study therefore recommends that a more systematic monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions be undertaken. Management tools must be employed as interventions to influence decision-making processes to eliminate resistance to change. Communication and intervention strategies should be promoted to educate and empower role-players in the execution of PM&E programmes/projects.