Zitha, H. E.Singo, T. A.Luvhimbi, Muravha Ivy2026-07-172026-07-172026-05-19Luvhimbi, M.I. 2026. The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3381MPMDepartment of Public and Development AdministrationThis study examines the Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) on enhancing municipal performance within the Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. As a vital component of good governance, M&E plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the effective implementation of municipal programs and projects. The research investigates how M&E practices are institutionalised and their impact on improving decision-making processes, service delivery, and overall performance at the local government level. The study is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Institutional Theory and Systems Theory, which inform the understanding of how organisational structures, processes, and external pressures shape the implementation and success of M&E systems in the municipal context. This study employed the Interpretivist research paradigm and used an exploratory research design to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of M&E on municipal performance in Thulamela Local Municipality. This study is based on desk-top research and uses a qualitative research method. A purposive sampling method was adopted to select secondary data, which includes government reports, audit findings, scholarly publications, institutional databases, policy documents, and journal articles, providing an efficient and cost-effective approach to data gathering relevant to M&E in the local sphere of government. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study contributes to the body of knowledge, as it will serve as a point of reference for future scholars in the local sphere of government, with particular attention to the impact of monitoring and evaluation on municipal performance in Thulamela Local Municipality. The municipality has put in place a comprehensive M&E policy and legislative frameworks to improve standardisation and accountability in municipal operations. The study also reveals that limited institutional capacity, resource constraints, inconsistent departmental coordination, and resistance to change prevent the municipality from fully leveraging M&E for developmental decision-making. This study recommends that Thulamela Local Municipality should integrate the M&E systems with the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and enhance the capacity of its M&E personnel through continuous training in indicator development, data management, evaluation design, and results-based management.1 online resource (xiii, 105, [5] leavesenUniversity of VendaEnhancingUCTDEvaluationMonitoringMunicipal PerformanceDissertationLuvhimbi MI. The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Luvhimbi, M. I. (2026). <i>The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality</i>. (). . Retrieved fromLuvhimbi, Muravha Ivy. <i>"The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality."</i> ., , 2026.TY - Dissertation AU - Luvhimbi, Muravha Ivy AB - This study examines the Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) on enhancing municipal performance within the Thulamela Local Municipality, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. As a vital component of good governance, M&E plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the effective implementation of municipal programs and projects. The research investigates how M&E practices are institutionalised and their impact on improving decision-making processes, service delivery, and overall performance at the local government level. The study is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of Institutional Theory and Systems Theory, which inform the understanding of how organisational structures, processes, and external pressures shape the implementation and success of M&E systems in the municipal context. This study employed the Interpretivist research paradigm and used an exploratory research design to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of M&E on municipal performance in Thulamela Local Municipality. This study is based on desk-top research and uses a qualitative research method. A purposive sampling method was adopted to select secondary data, which includes government reports, audit findings, scholarly publications, institutional databases, policy documents, and journal articles, providing an efficient and cost-effective approach to data gathering relevant to M&E in the local sphere of government. The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study contributes to the body of knowledge, as it will serve as a point of reference for future scholars in the local sphere of government, with particular attention to the impact of monitoring and evaluation on municipal performance in Thulamela Local Municipality. The municipality has put in place a comprehensive M&E policy and legislative frameworks to improve standardisation and accountability in municipal operations. The study also reveals that limited institutional capacity, resource constraints, inconsistent departmental coordination, and resistance to change prevent the municipality from fully leveraging M&E for developmental decision-making. This study recommends that Thulamela Local Municipality should integrate the M&E systems with the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and enhance the capacity of its M&E personnel through continuous training in indicator development, data management, evaluation design, and results-based management. DA - 2026-05-19 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Enhancing KW - Evaluation KW - Monitoring KW - Municipal Performance LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2026 T1 - The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality TI - The Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation in Enhancing Municipal Performance in the Thulamela Local Municipality UR - ER -