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This chapter examines the ongoing challenges of corruption and weak accountability within South Africa’s local government (LG), focussing on the role and limitations of Section 139 interventions. Despite extensive post-apartheid reforms aimed at building a developmental and democratic LG system, many municipalities remain characterised by governance failures, poor service delivery and financial mismanagement. Through a qualitative analysis of secondary data, the chapter investigates how political interference, cadre deployment, coalition instability and inadequate oversight mechanisms undermine municipal performance. Section 139 interventions, intended as corrective measures, often fail to yield lasting change due to resistance from local actors and weak monitoring systems. The chapter argues for the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity, ethical leadership, public participation and accountability frameworks. By unpacking the structural and political barriers to effective local governance, the chapter offers context-specific recommendations to improve the functionality of municipalities and restore public trust in local democratic institutions.

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Corruption and Accountability at the Local Government Level in South Africa: The Current Status Quo Under Section 139 Intervention

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Daniel N. Mlambo

摘要

This chapter examines the ongoing challenges of corruption and weak accountability within South Africa’s local government (LG), focussing on the role and limitations of Section 139 interventions. Despite extensive post-apartheid reforms aimed at building a developmental and democratic LG system, many municipalities remain characterised by governance failures, poor service delivery and financial mismanagement. Through a qualitative analysis of secondary data, the chapter investigates how political interference, cadre deployment, coalition instability and inadequate oversight mechanisms undermine municipal performance. Section 139 interventions, intended as corrective measures, often fail to yield lasting change due to resistance from local actors and weak monitoring systems. The chapter argues for the urgent need to strengthen institutional capacity, ethical leadership, public participation and accountability frameworks. By unpacking the structural and political barriers to effective local governance, the chapter offers context-specific recommendations to improve the functionality of municipalities and restore public trust in local democratic institutions.