The role of leadership on service delivery in South African municipalities : a case of Greater Giyani Local Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

The local government is the first level of government closest to the people, and it is required under the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to meet the needs of the people in their designated areas. Political and administrative leadership in the municipalities is entrusted with the responsibility of providing public services and managing government resources. Existing literature exhibits that municipal leaders possess certain characteristics that if effectively implemented, may effectively meet the needs of the people. With a distinct focus on Greater Giyani Local Municipality in Limpopo Province, the current study investigates the role of leadership in service delivery in South African municipalities. This study adopts “theory triangulation” as the theoretical points of departure due to its utilisation of four leadership theories (Servant, Transformational, Situational & System leadership theories). Municipal leadership in the Greater Giyani is expected to serve the public by providing high-quality service to the communities. To fulfil the purpose of this study, a mixed method research approach is adopted, which incorporates qualitative and quantitative methods. A questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data whereas interviews and document analysis were utilised to collect qualitative data. The collected data was then analysed through statistical package for social science. The findings of the study reveal that political and administrative leadership play a role in facilitating service delivery. However, there are also government issues that have to be considered in relation to service delivery, such as insufficient development training programs, and unqualified administrators. Aspects such as lack of understanding and compliance, poor public participation, and lack of adherence to work ethics are found to be amongst factors which hamper service delivery. This study submits that policy makers and managers in the municipalities should be trained in managerial skills. Additionally, the municipal leadership should always adhere to policies related to work ethics and procurement processes. The study also concludes that policy makers and senior managers in the municipalities need to develop relevant policies and strategies to enhance the role of leadership in service delivery in the municipalities.