Abstract:
Globally, citizens want better and more services to maintain or improve their
livelihoods. In South Africa, local government is responsible for delivering basic
services (e.g. access to potable water, proper sanitation, a sustainable electricity
supply, and regular waste removal), in collaboration with other spheres of
government, to enhance quality of life and local democracy. To improve service
delivery, municipalities must design and implement comprehensive monitoring
and evaluation (M&E) systems to facilitate continuous assessment, M&E of
municipal structures, systems and processes, in line with municipalities’ integrated
development plans (IDPs), service delivery outcomes, and operational plans
to implement the budget. This case study on challenges hampering successful
implementation of M&E in the Mfolozi municipality found that shortage of skills
and lack of financial resources contribute to the ineffectiveness of M&E. The article
concludes by recommending remedial actions to address the identified challenges,
namely employing and retaining highly skilled workers from an increasingly diverse
and mobile labour market. In addition, the municipality should involve the local
community in the planning and execution of projects to ensure their success.
