Enhancing service delivery at local government level: challenges and recommendations for the City of Cape Town

Abstract

The process of amalgamating the previously racially-based municipalities in terms of the provisions of the Local Government Transition Act (LGTA), was executed very differently in the various municipalities throughout South Africa. In several instances the structures and systems of the more established municipal administrations - usually former White Local Authorities (WLAs)-were merely adopted to CO-Opt staff from the smaller and usually weaker administrations such as the Black Local Authorities (BLAs). Admittedly, this approach reduced the level of administrative disruption, but in several instances it did not give rise to more effective and equitable systems, and more importantly, improved service delivery. In essence, many new local authorities are still plagued with the weaknesses and inequities of the old administrative system. In this regard, the Cape Town municipality, which is the focus of this study, is no exception. This study will firstly provide a brief background to the amalgamation process undertaken by the Cape Town municipality.