The public administration performance of the coalition-led government on implementing the Integrated Development Plan (2016-2021) in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

An IDP is a legal requirement and guides projects and development at the local sphere of government. The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (COT) found itself under a coalition for the first time since the democratic dispensation in South Africa. Coalitions in South African municipalities have been unstable and have at times affected administrative performances of municipalities. This study looked at how the coalition-led City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s administrative performed in implementing the IDP during the 2016-2021 period. The objectives of the researcher included determining performance challenges facing coalition-led governments in the local government sphere of the South African political-administrative system. The other objective was to determine public administrative challenges that faced the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality’s coalition-led government between 2016 - 2021. The researcher employed the qualitative research methodology to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. Semi-structured interviews were organised by the researcher to interview selected participants. Purposive sampling was employed by the researcher to select participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data collected from the semi-structured interviews. Study findings revealed that the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality delayed adopting budgets which directly resulted to projects being stalled. Councillors should be educated on the dire consequences of not implementing budgets on time as communities bear the cost. The study revealed also revealed that even though the councillors who served under the coalition government were from different political organizations, their party’s ideology was not a factor. Service delivery topped the priority items of the council. The study’s findings are crucial and can be of help to the municipality and other municipalities who may have to undertake the process of IDP implementation. Though the challenges faced by the other municipalities, the study was conducted in the COT therefore the findings and recommendations are only suitable for the COT