Influence of Knowledge Management Practices on Public Service Delivery by Municipalities

Mousaion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charleen Musonza ◽  
Ndakasharwa Muchaonyerwa
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Public Service Delivery

This study examines the influence of knowledge management (KM) practices on public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study sought to determine the factors that have triggered the implementation of KM practices; the effectiveness of KM practices towards public service delivery; and the extent to which KM practices have influenced public service delivery by municipalities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study. Quantitative data were collected through a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 202 employees at the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality in the Eastern Cape. Qualitative data were collected through observations and interviews of 2 senior managers. The data collected gave a response rate of 72 per cent. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed descriptively and presented verbatim respectively. The results indicated that the internal and external factors included in this study have contributed to the implementation of KM practices in the municipality. Furthermore, the effective use of KM practices has increased the organisational KM initiative, as well as the provision of services such as electricity, education, transport, and social services by the municipality. The study recommends the establishment of KM awareness and the establishment of an integrated system that will assist in effective knowledge sharing, retention and acquisition across municipalities in the Eastern Cape.

scholarly journals The emergence of collectively owned self-supply water supply systems in rural South Africa – what can we learn from the Tshakhuma case in Limpopo?

Water SA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2 April) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Hofstetter ◽  
Barbara van Koppen ◽  
Alex Bolding
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Governance Structure ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Public Service Delivery

Despite the rapid extension of public service delivery since the end of Apartheid, many rural citizens in South Africa still rely on their own initiatives and infrastructure to access water. They construct, improve, operate and maintain infrastructure of different complexities, from individual wells to complex collectively owned water schemes. While most of these schemes operate without legal recognition, they provide essential services to many households. In this article we will first provide an overview of the growing international body of literature describing self-supply as an alternative pathway for public service delivery. We then take a historical perspective on the role of communities and self-supply in South Africa and describe the emergence of six collectively owned, gravity-fed, piped schemes in Tshakhuma, Limpopo Province. We describe and compare these systems using key characteristics like resource access, investment, construction, operation, maintenance and institutional governance. We further assess their performance with regard to coverage, service level, reliability, governance structure, accountability and water quality. We do so because we are convinced that lessons learned from studying such schemes as locally adapted prototypes have the potential to improve public approaches to service delivery. The described cases show the willingness of community members to engage with service delivery and their ability to provide services in cases where the state has failed. The assessment also highlights problematic aspects of self-supply related to a lack of accountability, technical expertise and the exclusion of disadvantaged community members. By describing and assessing the performance of rural self-supply schemes, we aim to recognize, study and learn from such schemes. We consequently do not conclude this article by providing answers, but by raising some pertinent, policy-relevant questions.

Issue of Financial Management Practices among SMMEs: A Case Study of Former Transkei Homelands in Eastern Cape Province South Africa

10.31355/70 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 001-007
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Management Skills

NOTE: THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED WITH THE INFORMING SCIENCE INSTITUTE. Aim/Purpose...................................................................................................................................................................................................... The goal of this study was to investigate the financial management practices of SMMEs operating in under developed regions as a challenge facing SMMEs operating in underdeveloped regions using former Transkei Homelands in Eastern Cape Province as a case study. Background......................................................................................................................................................................................................... In South Africa, the works of Cameron and Miller (2008) highlights that South Africa is ranked among top countries in the world with high failure rates of SMMEs during the first year of establishment. This calls for continues research works to identify factors that could be impeding the progress of SMMEs in South Africa. According to Jayansankaran, (1999) proper financial management practices are among the key deciding factors when it comes to the survival of SMMEs. Mostly SMMEs in underdeveloped regions are owned and managed by one person, the lack of financial management competence on the side of the SMMEs owners or managers in turn could bring serious consequences to the financial stability and grow of the SMMEs. It is against this background that this study focuses on financial management practices among SMMEs entrepreneurs operating their businesses in former Transkei Homelands where survival of SMMEs are critical for economic development of the region. Methodology....................................................................................................................................................................................................... The researcher in this study uses both quantitative and purposive sampling approaches to design an exploratory study to sample 68 SMMEs owners/managers based in the various towns of the selected region. Contribution........................................................................................................................................................................................................ This research will add to the growing knowledge about identifying factors that may be impeding survival of SMMEs. Findings .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. The major findings of the study revealed that 95.59% of the owners/managers have no financial management/accounting skills as well as 58.82% of the internal system of recording financial transactions are not audited. Recommendations for Practitioners................................................................................................................................................................. In view of the findings it is recommended that agencies charged with looking after SMMEs provide training in the area of financial management skills for the SMMEs owners/managers. Recommendation for Researchers.................................................................................................................................................................... Future studies can include the other four principles of financial management principles highlighted by Armstrong (2001). Impact on Society............................................................................................................................................................................................... The research will assist to highlight to funders of SMMEs, policy makers and business support agencies the need for educating SMMEs entrepreneurs especially those operating their businesses in underdeveloped regions in proper financial management practices in order to curve the problem of cash flow faced by SMMEs which leads to SMMEs failure. Future Research................................................................................................................................................................................................. Exploring the skills of the SMMEs entrepreneurs’ to prepare, understand and interpretation of financial statements are critical in this context.

Appreciating the Diversity of NGO’s Towards Service Delivery in South Africa: Drawing Evidences from Eastern Cape Province

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mutemi Kajiita ◽  
Simon Kang’ethe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
The Public ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
The Government

The dismantling of Apartheid era in South Africa in 1994, the advent of democratic era, was welcomed with a package of hope for the citizens as far as development was concerned. Since then, the government has been playing a key role in service delivery. Nonetheless, gaps exist in dispensing an array of services and this has prompted the interventions of NGOs in such developmental discourses. Through a mixed method research approach, this article explores the milestones of NGOs in South Africa while drawing pieces of evidence from Eastern Cape Province. The findings indicate that NGOs have responded positively to the prevention and treatment of various diseases, offered training and facilitated medical facilities in the province, promoted early childhood education and finally ensured regularity in services delivery. The article recommends that the public should appreciate and show goodwill to the efforts of the NGOs, pull their resources together to support and sustain the already existing NGO projects.

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