Masters Degrees (Political Studies and Governance)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Political Studies and Governance) by Author "Cloete, Pringle"

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    An analysis of municipality management key performance indicator (KPI) and its relation to municipal manager (MM) turnover: comparison between municipalities in Gauteng and Limpopo provinces
    (University of the Free State, 2022) Mashashane, Ndangano Banyana; Cloete, Pringle
    Effective public administration and municipal management are vital for developmental states' functioning, such as South Africa. Without efficient and effective municipal managers committed to clearly outlined and systematically implemented development plans, South Africa may struggle to live up to its developmental objectives. As such, good governance of municipal managers needs to be regularly checked through project management appraisal systems. However, it is due to the goal of good governance, which is consistently checked through regular project management appraisals, that we observe a high staff turnover in local municipalities. Staff turnover can be costly if it results in the loss of human capital investment and intellectual capital, exacerbated by costs to replacing management and a loss of productivity (Mzezewa and Raushai, 2019:5). Hattingh (2020:3) notes that the South African local government invests in the human capital and intellectual development of their senior managers through offering training and other capacity building initiatives while also providing financial assistance to further qualifications while under contract. However, a recent financial audit claims that more than half of the local municipalities are currently labelled as financially distressed, which adds to the high employee turnover rate in municipal management positions. According to the Department of Cooperative Governance, of those employees suspended, 21 were municipal managers (Hattingh, 2020:33). As a response to the current problem, the government has allocated R6.6-billion to support municipalities through building capacity and strengthening municipal administrations (Hattingh, 2020:4; Polity, 2021). Based on the implications of managerialism, this dissertation hopes to add a body of knowledge on any trends of accomplishments, or any entry requirements met, which may predict the capability of good governance of municipal managers and to increase staff retention to prevent further loss of capital. The problem, however, is that a shortage of research exists on trends of which municipal manager KPI's (competencies), skills and experiences lead to completion of their contractual term and not suspension. This study therefore aimed to identify which Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and core managerial competencies (CMCs) are present amongst municipal managers who complete their contractual terms while also performing well within the human resource management retention theory of job fit. In other words, the objective of this study is to explore and compare descriptively the municipal management turnover and any trends in the managers (MM's) KPI's and experiences that promote completion of managerial contract with the local government. The study is a cross-sectional descriptive quantitative exploration of municipality managers' performance challenges, preventing them from completing their full contractual term as a municipal manager. Information came from multiple sources, including Curriculum Vitae (CVs), KPI, CMCs, audits and exit reviews of managers. Secondary data was thematically categorised into the core competencies and KPI categories required by local government, and lastly, data was analysed and interpreted. This analysis will ultimately assist in the development of guidelines towards determining minimum requirements of managerial positions in municipalities to facilitate greater staff retention.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Evaluating the impact of poor-quality governance in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State Province
    (University of the Free State, 2024) Holeni, Rifumuni Bridget; Cloete, Pringle
    In South Africa, Local Government was established as the third sphere of government with a mandated function of administering and providing basic services to all citizens, governed by specific legislative frameworks and regulations designed to ensure good governance practices. Despite these prescripts and guidelines, it was noted that the widespread occurrence of poor governance practices within Local Government had significantly hindered the ability to function effectively, leading to negative consequences for Local Government, citizens and the country. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of poor-quality governance within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) in the Free State Province of South Africa. The literature review examined the factors and challenges that contribute to poor governance and its implications for MMM and the provision of service delivery. In addition, the study concentrated on a desk-based research method that utilised qualitative and quantitative secondary data. MMM has encountered substantial governance challenges marked by leadership instability, rapid urbanisation, corruption, inefficiency and lack of transparency. These challenges have resulted in inadequate service delivery, financial instability within the Municipality, and widespread distrust among citizens toward municipal authorities. The analysis revealed a direct correlation between the quality of governance and the quality of the output, which is service delivery. The findings presented a concerning view of an organisation that is not fully functional and fails to comply with the key principles of good governance, as outlined by the legal framework for Local Government and good governance metrics. The findings of the study revealed that poor governance practices in MMM have led to ineffective policy implementation, financial instability, the absence of performance management systems, unethical behaviour, institutional inefficiencies, and inadequate cooperative governance. Additionally, the study emphasised the lack of community participation, which has caused growing dissatisfaction and a loss of faith in municipal governance. This erosion of trust is reflected in the increase in protests. The findings of the study further revealed that the impact of poor governance extends beyond MMM to affect the entire country. Poor governance has left MMM in a fragile financial state, resulting in an unstable liquidity position that prompted Moody's to downgrade MMM’s rating in August 2019. MMM is also grappling to fulfil its short-term obligations and manage the expenses associated with the delivery of service. Additionally, poor governance has resulted in a decline in municipal revenue collection, rising debt levels, and unsatisfactory audit outcomes. Considering the findings, the researcher recommended strategic actions to improve governance within MMM. These encompass the professionalising of Local Government, implementing robust anti-corruption measures, strengthening financial oversight and sustainability, increasing community involvement in decision-making, conducting capacity building initiatives for municipal staff, and leadership evolution to effectively implement good governance practices. The study concluded by suggesting that addressing the factors and challenges leading to poor governance in MMM could pave the way for implementing good governance, restoring public confidence, improving service delivery, and promoting sustainable economic growth in Mangaung. Furthermore, good governance could contribute to sustainable development by aligning with the NDP 2030 goals, positioning South Africa to become a capable and developmental state.