Provincial intervention outcomes in Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province

Abstract

The main aim of this article is to assess Provincial intervention outcomes in Makana Local Municipality, identify factors, which cause unsuccessful Provincial intervention, and lastly, measure the extent to which these factors played a role during intervention in Makana Local Municipality. Provincial interventions have been granted a legal and constitutional status by South African Constitution, Section 100 – 139 and 216. Therefore, Provincial interventions have been used to assist municipalities that are failing to achieve their constitutional mandate as a result of multiple issues, such as, financial instability, corruption, maladministration, poor leadership and management, and political tensions. Interventions by the Province are therefore meant to find long‐term solutions to the problems municipalities find themselves in. It is against this background that this article assess the outcomes of the Provincial intervention in Makana Local Municipality. The research utilized a qualitative approach in a form of documentary sources and open‐ended interviews with a range of actors in Makana Local Municipality. The study found that Provincial intervention in Makana has resulted to some extent successful outcomes; however, there are still areas needing further improvements in the municipality as evident by the current state of the municipality.The key findings of the study include an increase of 8 million in Revenue Collection, the development of a clear, firm Creditor Payment Procedure, and the recruitment process to start filling up critical positions; further to this, Makana received a qualified audit opinion in 2015; in addition, the municipality is honoring the Creditors' debt repayment plans in accordance. This is the presentation of findings on the outcomes of Provincial intervention in Makana Municipality. The article concludes by providing lessons for both the Province and Local government for effective interventions.