DECENTRALISATION OF GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT DISPERSE OF SERVICE DELIVERY IN MUNICIPALITIES
BY
NONHLAKANIPHO MFEKA
STUDENT NO 62527886
Submitted in preliminary fulfillment of the
BA Honours Degree
Public Administration
UNISA
19 August 2024
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Background and motivation of the study 1
1.3 Problem statement 3
1.4 Research questions 3
1.5 Research objectives 3
1.6 Clarification of concepts 4
1.6.1 Decentralization 4
1.6.2 Political decentralization 4
1.6.3 Administrative decentralization 5
1.6.4 Fiscal decentralization 5
1.6.5 Economic/market decentralization 6
1.6.6 Public service delivery 6
1.6.7 Service delivery 6
1.6.8 Municipality 7
1.7 Research design and methodology 7
1.7.1 Units of observation 7
1.7.2 Research methods 7
1.8 Proposed heading for the research report 8
1.9 Conclusion 9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Theoretical framework 10
2.2.1 Fiscal federalism 10
2.2.2 Polycentric governance 10
, 2.2.3 Subsidiarity 11
2.3 Drivers and the rise of decentralization 11
2.4 Decentralization Legislative framework in South Africa 13
2.4.1 The constitution of the Republic of South Africa 13
2.4.2 The Local Government: Municipal Structures Act of 1998 14
2.4.3 White Paper on Local Government of 1998 14
2.5 Types of decentralisations in municipal governance 15
2.5.1 Political decentralisation 15
2.5.2 Administrative decentralization 16
2.5.3 Fiscal decentralisation 16
2.5.4 Market decentralization 17
2.6 Levels of decentralization 18
2.6.1 Deconcentration 18
2.6.2 Delegation 19
2.6.3 Devolution 19
2.7 Impacts of decentralization on Service delivery 20
2.8 Challenges for effective decentralisation 22
2.9 Conclusion 24
, CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
In South Africa the decentralization of government has been used as a solution for
improving service delivery in local municipalities. The aim behind this strategy is to bring
services closer to the people by shifting decision making powers, resources and
responsibilities from the central government to municipalities (Muller & Ndevu, 2018:182).
Decentralization aims to provide effective and efficient service delivery to citizens, by
giving power to local leaders who know the needs and priorities of their local people. This
means that municipalities are the ones who are primary tasked to provide basic service
delivery such as water, sanitation, electricity, sewerage, and refuse removal in
communities (Thabang, Makhanya & Nel, 2022:440).
According to Dick-Sagoe (2020) municipalities are decentralized in four (4) ways in order
to achieve effective and efficient service delivery which are political, administrative, fiscal
and economic. Political decentralization gives autonomy and self-governance power to
municipalities. Administrative decentralization gives municipalities power to regulate and
implement programs and policies. Fiscal decentralization gives municipalities the power
to regulate revenues, expenditure and budget decisions. Economic decentralization gives
municipalities power to find ways to promote local economic development. However, it
has been an ongoing challenge for municipalities to provide satisfying service delivery.
This research report aims to explore whether decentralization improves service delivery
in municipalities. This chapter 1 of the research report will firstly have a background and
mention the motive of the study. Secondly, it will state the problem statement, research
question and research objectives. Thirdly, it will clarify some of the important concepts so
that the reader can fully understand the report. Finally, it will state the proposed headings
for the research report which will be discussed in detail in chapter 2 and then a conclusion
of the chapter.
1.2 Background and motivation of the study
In 1996 a constitutional democracy was introduced in South Africa, and it came with the
1
EFFICIENT DISPERSE OF SERVICE DELIVERY IN MUNICIPALITIES
BY
NONHLAKANIPHO MFEKA
STUDENT NO 62527886
Submitted in preliminary fulfillment of the
BA Honours Degree
Public Administration
UNISA
19 August 2024
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Background and motivation of the study 1
1.3 Problem statement 3
1.4 Research questions 3
1.5 Research objectives 3
1.6 Clarification of concepts 4
1.6.1 Decentralization 4
1.6.2 Political decentralization 4
1.6.3 Administrative decentralization 5
1.6.4 Fiscal decentralization 5
1.6.5 Economic/market decentralization 6
1.6.6 Public service delivery 6
1.6.7 Service delivery 6
1.6.8 Municipality 7
1.7 Research design and methodology 7
1.7.1 Units of observation 7
1.7.2 Research methods 7
1.8 Proposed heading for the research report 8
1.9 Conclusion 9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 10
2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Theoretical framework 10
2.2.1 Fiscal federalism 10
2.2.2 Polycentric governance 10
, 2.2.3 Subsidiarity 11
2.3 Drivers and the rise of decentralization 11
2.4 Decentralization Legislative framework in South Africa 13
2.4.1 The constitution of the Republic of South Africa 13
2.4.2 The Local Government: Municipal Structures Act of 1998 14
2.4.3 White Paper on Local Government of 1998 14
2.5 Types of decentralisations in municipal governance 15
2.5.1 Political decentralisation 15
2.5.2 Administrative decentralization 16
2.5.3 Fiscal decentralisation 16
2.5.4 Market decentralization 17
2.6 Levels of decentralization 18
2.6.1 Deconcentration 18
2.6.2 Delegation 19
2.6.3 Devolution 19
2.7 Impacts of decentralization on Service delivery 20
2.8 Challenges for effective decentralisation 22
2.9 Conclusion 24
, CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
In South Africa the decentralization of government has been used as a solution for
improving service delivery in local municipalities. The aim behind this strategy is to bring
services closer to the people by shifting decision making powers, resources and
responsibilities from the central government to municipalities (Muller & Ndevu, 2018:182).
Decentralization aims to provide effective and efficient service delivery to citizens, by
giving power to local leaders who know the needs and priorities of their local people. This
means that municipalities are the ones who are primary tasked to provide basic service
delivery such as water, sanitation, electricity, sewerage, and refuse removal in
communities (Thabang, Makhanya & Nel, 2022:440).
According to Dick-Sagoe (2020) municipalities are decentralized in four (4) ways in order
to achieve effective and efficient service delivery which are political, administrative, fiscal
and economic. Political decentralization gives autonomy and self-governance power to
municipalities. Administrative decentralization gives municipalities power to regulate and
implement programs and policies. Fiscal decentralization gives municipalities the power
to regulate revenues, expenditure and budget decisions. Economic decentralization gives
municipalities power to find ways to promote local economic development. However, it
has been an ongoing challenge for municipalities to provide satisfying service delivery.
This research report aims to explore whether decentralization improves service delivery
in municipalities. This chapter 1 of the research report will firstly have a background and
mention the motive of the study. Secondly, it will state the problem statement, research
question and research objectives. Thirdly, it will clarify some of the important concepts so
that the reader can fully understand the report. Finally, it will state the proposed headings
for the research report which will be discussed in detail in chapter 2 and then a conclusion
of the chapter.
1.2 Background and motivation of the study
In 1996 a constitutional democracy was introduced in South Africa, and it came with the
1
