Monitoring and evaluation as a contributing factor towards sustainable service delivery: a case of Waterberg District Municipality, South Africa

Abstract

The study’s intention was to investigate the role of monitoring and evaluation as a contributing factor towards the sustainable delivery of service to the community. The main rationale was informed by observed factors such as community dissatisfaction, which emanated from poor service provision and lack of accountability by government to the community. The researcher conducted a comprehensive literature review focusing on the following: contribution of monitoring and evaluation processes, causes and effects of service delivery challenges and other elements that could complement mechanisms towards the achievement of improved service provision to communities by three spheres of government, including the assessment of the existing legislative framework. The researcher went further to review literature on how, compared to South Africa, countries like Mexico, Australia, Canada, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Uganda conceptualised Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) approaches and how they implement those M&E frameworks and processes within their governance context. The Waterberg District Municipality in the Limpopo province with its five local municipalities, was used as a case study and the exploratory research method was applied in the process. Similar studies may be replicated in other similar municipalities in the province. The population size and samples were drawn from the three spheres of government as follows: councillors, ward committee members, community members, community structures and the officials from the national and provincial departments especially those responsible for monitoring and supporting the municipalities. Data was collected through various tools, such as questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups. Consequently, it was captured and analysed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, which was further used as a tool to produce results that are presented in a descriptive statistic, percentages, and frequencies. The qualitative data was presented in words rather than statistically. It was interpreted and analysed with the use of assisted questionnaires. The report was written in word format so that, it could be understood through a series of words interpreted from raw data by the respondents. The key findings, conclusions, recommendations, and the lessons learned through the v literature review and the inputs provided by the participants are outlined in detail to inform the final conclusions of the study. The study proposes and recommends that, Government-wide M&E System be retained but with a combination of Results-based and Participatory approach systems.