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.