Challenges Related to Capacity in Local Government Administration: The Continuing Tussle Between Insulated and Non-Insulated Local Government Public Service Leadership

Abstract

This paper reports on the extent to which an insulated or non-insulated public service leadership in local government in South Africa is a relevant determinant of stability and service delivery. This analysis was done in the context of a high turnover of local government leadership and poor service delivery. The author posits that there is adequate and capable leadership available to successfully steer development in local government. However, the inability of political leadership to find a balance between an insulated and non-insulted public service has led to unstable local government. The paper used a comparative desktop methodology to compare the tenure of municipal managers of three metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng province since 2001. The study analysed documents that are in the public domain, such as newspapers, legislation, regulations and records of Council resolutions, according to the applicable theories. The conclusion is that the tussle between insulated and non-insulated leadership is ongoing. The tussle is evidenced by overbearing political influence that limits the space for public servants to be fully efficient. The controls against such influences are neither adhered to, nor adequately enforced.