Building responsive local government in South Africa: Critical review of intergovernmental support and interventions in provincial contexts

Abstract

As South Africa enters its fourth decades of democratic governance there is growing debate about the way intergovernmental support and intervention is understood from operational perspectives, particularly as pertains to the management of local government. It is not clear how national and provincial governments apply intergovernmental support, control and checking mechanisms before the mandatory interventions through Section 139 of the Constitution of South Africa (1996) becomes a necessity. This article aims to contribute to this contemporary discourse by providing a critical account of the role of intergovernmental support and intervention to local government in provincial contexts. The article follows qualitative approach. It argues that a capable local government is possible if there is enough intergovernmental support from provincial and national governments. It further argues mandatory interventions are not helpful, and that their parameters should be revisited and certainly, limit those to cases of ‘absolute’ impossibilities. In the end, the article recommended key ‘intergovernmental support’ channels and measures that provinces can use to aid municipalities facing crisis situations.   

Keywords: {'name': 'Intergovernmental relations, intergovernmental support, coordination, intervention, municipality, provincial government'}

Authors & affiliations

C.K. Ramulifho
Affiliation not supplied

Nametso Gae
Affiliation not supplied

T.E. Rangwato
Affiliation not supplied

A.M Shopola
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

Abidoye, S. H. (2015). The nature of governmental relationship (inter and intra) in Nigeria’s fifteen-year-old democratization. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 20(7), 54–58.

Auditor-General South Africa. (2015). Audit outcomes for 2014/2015 financial year. Pretoria: AGSA.

Auditor-General South Africa. (2023). Audit outcomes for 2022/2023 financial year. Pretoria: AGSA.

Bambo, S. (2022). South African local government: Challenges and prospects. Polokwane: Emperor Publisher.

Barle, D. G., & Uys, F. M. (2002). Macro-perspective on intergovernmental relations in respect of local political structures. Journal of Public Administration, 37(2), 140–165.

DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2023.2211010

Holtzhausen, N. (2017). Provincial government in South Africa. In C. Landsberg & S. Graham (Eds.), Government and politics in South Africa: Coming of age (pp. 129–155). Pretoria: Van Schaick Publishers.

DOI: 10.1007/s12132-019-09380-6

Khambule, I. (2021). District development model: Towards a capable local developmental state in South Africa. Journal of Public Administration, 56(3), 507–523.

Krishnan, H. B., & Subban, M. (2021). Co-operative financial governance: A case study of the distressed Mpofana Local Municipality in South Africa. In J. S. Wessels, T. Potgieter, & T. Naidoo (Eds.), Public administration challenges: Cases in Africa (pp. 227–244). Cape Town: Juta & Company (Pty) Ltd.

Makoti, M. Z., & Odeku, O. K. (2018). Intervention into municipal affairs in South Africa and its impact on municipal basic services. African Journal of Public Affairs, 10(4).

Manyaka, R. K. (2014). Collection of municipal own revenue in South Africa: Challenges and prospects. Journal of Public Administration, 49(1). https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC153633

Masango, R. (2000). Towards efficiency and effectiveness in the public sector. Journal of Public Administration, 35(1), 60–73.

News24. (2019, July 4). Ditsobotla municipality denies claims it barred administrator from entering the premises. https://www.news24.com/news24/ditsobotla-municipality-denies-claims-it-barred-administrator-from-entering-its-premises-20190704 [Accessed 03 Feb. 2025]

DOI: 10.1787/7f5ec453-en

DOI: 10.4102/jolgri.v5i0.185

Republic of South Africa. (1996). The constitution of South Africa, 1996. Pretoria: Government Printers.

Republic of South Africa. (2005). Intergovernmental relations frameworks act, 13 of 2005. Pretoria: Government Printers.

Shopola, A. (2023). The provincial intervention in Mopani District Municipality smells ANC politics. SecoVoice Newspaper, Issue Number 9, 1–15 May 2023.

DOI: 10.53973/jopa.2024.59.1.a9

Van Der Waldt, G. (2017). Local government. In C. Landsberg & S. Graham (Eds.), Government and politics in South Africa: Coming of age (pp. 157–184). Pretoria: Van Schaick Publishers.

Van Der Waldt, G. (2022). Municipal management: Serving the people. Cape Town: Juta & Co.

Visser, C. B., & Erasmus, P. W. (2002). The management of public finance: A practical guide. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.