The failure of decentralisation in South African local government: Complexity and unanticipated consequences

Abstract

Protests against service delivery failure have become commonplace in South Africa, and the resulting political upheavals constitute perhaps the most serious challenge this young democracy has yet faced. So just what is the problem? Having studied 37 municipalities across the country, the authors of The failure of decentralisation in South African local government have concluded that as a consequence of the decentralisation of local government a highly complex model of government has been imposed upon these municipalities, and that this is largely to blame. By posing a number of questions about the roles that exist within local government the authors arrive at a possible alternative model which imposes less complex demands and which offers different structures and responsibilities that can be adapted to the needs of the municipality. This timely book aims to promote an understanding of the difficulties that confront local government in South Africa and the causes of its failure, as well as to encourage debate.