Stakeholder perceptions on the factors influencing corporate governance at the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Municipalities are mandated by the South African Constitution, enabling Acts of Parliament and legislated structures to deliver public services. Research highlights under-performance in service delivery at local and municipal governance levels. The qualitative study examines the stakeholder perceptions of the factors influencing corporate governance at the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Limpopo Province. Semi-structured interviews and self-completion questionnaires were used to obtain data from a purposive sample of 120 respondents. Findings numerous factors that compromise corporate governance processes and underlie the poor and non-delivery of public services in the Municipality. Municipal-level factors include delays in the appointment of key executives which paralyse municipal operations and harm non-accountability organisational cultures. Non-existent managerial skills and poor organisational communication with key stakeholders, corruption, and malpractices in procurement and tender procedures. The study conclusions are that political interference and lack of consequence management by legally mandated structures have eroded corporate governance at the Municipality level. The study recommendations include the need for the national government and relevant bodies to enforce the governing Acts of Parliament such as the Public Finance Management Act, Municipal Finance Management Act, Municipal Structures Acts, and Municipal Systems Act the recommendations of the Kings Report.