Examining Municipal Councillors’ Oversight Roles in Alfred Nzo District Municipality of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

This study reviews the oversight roles played by municipal councillors in Alfred Nzo District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The objective is to determine the appropriate strategies that can be recommended for improving effectiveness of leadership,  i.e., council structures. This is against the backdrop of the Auditor-General’s audit report for three financial years (2008–2011), which revealed the weakness of the systems of the municipal councils, including internal controls and inadequate leadership. These audit findings had been highlighted as the basis for irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures that results to a series of adverse and disclaimer audit reports. Using a qualitative methodology approach with a descriptive design, the study attempts to assess the extent to which the political leadership of the municipality performs its roles in response to expectations of good governance and service delivery. The findings show apparent shortcomings in the administrative procedures. To achieve improvement in good governance, financial accountability and service delivery, the study recommends for improvement in educational and leadership capacity of elected councillors.