The Impact of Accountability Mechanisms in Enhancing Municipal Water Service Delivery: A Case of Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province

Abstract

The study is investigated the impact of accountability mechanisms in enhancing municipal water service delivery at Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in Mpumalanga province. The issue of accountability and the supply of water services has been a major concern for more than two decades in the Bushbuckridge local municipality. Despite the fact that the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) provided the majority of South Africans optimism for a better life, the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality has been receiving orders from community members demanding adequate water delivery. The continual demonstrations protest by the community members shows that the municipality is failing to meet the demands of the communities. To this end, the study uses qualitative method to collect data for better understanding for the historical and current concerns about water scarcity in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. Data collection was gathered from internal stakeholders that are municipal officials and external stakeholders which are BLM community members, ward committee members, ward councilors in ward 18 and 20. The researcher used face-to-face interviews, focus groups and semi structured questionnaires. This investigation could lead to future water-related solutions in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality.