IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/rbs/ijbrss/v14y2025i5p348-357.html

Challenges, progress and lessons in the implementation of Sustainable Developmental Goal 16 to improve service delivery in local government

Author

Listed:
  • Nhlanhla Sibusiso Malinga

    (Durban University of Technology, South Africa.)

  • Hlengiwe Nomzamo Mabizela

    (Durban University of Technology)

Abstract

Despite notable progress since the end of apartheid, South Africa continues to experience deficiencies in peace, social justice, and institutional strength. This phenomenon is primarily observed in local government, characterised by complex and nuanced issues pertaining to insufficient service delivery and governance. Municipalities nationwide exhibit significant unethical leadership, inadequate governance, and excessive expenditure, thereby eroding public trust and accountability. These challenges may deplete public resources and hinder the efficient implementation of policies designed to improve public living conditions. The disparity between governmental statements and actual service delivery increases, leading to considerable public dissatisfaction. This has affected the effective execution of SDG 16. This study analysed the advancements and obstacles in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 within local government, focussing on the identification of key lessons to enhance service delivery and promote improved governance practices. The research employed a desktop methodology, focussing on the analysis of secondary data to meet its objectives. The findings indicate that, despite significant advancements in delivering basic services to municipalities, the country has not fully achieved its potential, as evidenced by ongoing public dissatisfaction and major protests regarding inadequate service provision. The ongoing outcry and clear dissatisfaction underscore the necessity for policymakers to urgently address these gaps. Municipalities have advanced in achieving SDG 16 by establishing legislative frameworks, such as Municipal Finance Management, to enhance governance. Notwithstanding these accomplishments, significant reforms are still necessary, and the attainment of SDG 16 by 2030 remains uncertain. Key Words:Sustainable Development Goal, Local Government, Service Delivery And Good Governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Nhlanhla Sibusiso Malinga & Hlengiwe Nomzamo Mabizela, 2025. "Challenges, progress and lessons in the implementation of Sustainable Developmental Goal 16 to improve service delivery in local government," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 14(5), pages 348-357, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:348-357
    DOI: 10.20525/ijrbs.v14i5.4074
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ssbfnet.com/ojs/index.php/ijrbs/article/view/4074/2881
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i5.4074
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i5.4074?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. France Khutso Lavhelani Kgobe & John Mamokhere, 2021. "The Value of Public Participation in Land-Use Planning for Redeeming Congestion in South African Municipalities," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 26(1), pages 17-31, Decembrie.
    2. O.S. Madumo & S.B. Koma, 2019. "Local Government Reform in South Africa: The Quest for Review and Repositioning of Municipal Administration," Journal of Reviews on Global Economics, Lifescience Global, vol. 8, pages 581-590.
    3. Mabunda, Lungile Tim & Mvunabandi, Jean Damascene & Chonco, Celumusa Makepeace, 2023. "Investigating the Effect of Financial Mismanagement on Municipalities Service Delivery: A Case Study of eThekwini Municipality-South Africa," Journal of Accounting and Finance in Emerging Economies, CSRC Publishing, Center for Sustainability Research and Consultancy Pakistan, vol. 9(4), pages 639-654, December.
    4. Matuku Mphahlele & Horacio Zandamela, 2021. "Local Government Capacity Development: A Case Study of a South African District Municipality," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 11(2), pages 156177-1561, December.
    5. Sengiwakhile Mngomezulu, 2020. "Political Interference in the Administration of Service Delivery in UMLALAZI Local Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 12(1), pages 38-45.
    6. Hlengiwe Mabizela & Zwelithini Zwane, 2023. "Monitoring and evaluation as critical approach to enhance the performance of local government: South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(7), pages 74-84, October.
    7. Asogan Moodley & Barry Ackers & Elza Odendaal, 2022. "Factors inhibiting effective organisational performance management: insights from the South African public sector," International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 18(1), pages 1-27.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. ENWEREJI, Prince Chukwuneme, 2022. "Enhancing Financial Accountability In South African Local Municipalities: A Consequence Management Viewpoint," Studii Financiare (Financial Studies), Centre of Financial and Monetary Research "Victor Slavescu", vol. 26(4), pages 19-47, December.
    2. Lee Caleb Mahlangu & Austin Mwange & Francis Simui, 2025. "Investigating Barriers Affecting the Effective Implementation of Internal Control Systems and Performance of Lusaka City Council on Service Delivery," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 3273-3288, March.
    3. Lee Caleb Mahlangu & Francis Simui & Austin Mwange, 2025. "Employee Perspectives on the Effectiveness of Internal Control Systems on the Performance of Lusaka City Council Service Delivery," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 2918-2927, March.
    4. Phumelela Talent Vezi & Ashnee Rajlal & Anos Chitamba & Regis Muchowe, 2024. "Examining the nexus between staff development practices and employee performance at a selected Municipality in KZN," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 6(6), pages 91-101, December.
    5. Wendy Meadolance MADONSELA & Mocheudi Martinus SELEPE, 2025. "An Overview Of Challenges And Strategic Measures That Will Ensure Effective And Sustainable Municipal Service Delivery Within South African Local Government," Annals of the University of Craiova for Journalism, Communication and Management, Department of Communication, Journalism and Education Sciences, University of Craiova, vol. 11(1), pages 47-58, July.
    6. John Mamokhere & Daniel F Meyer, 2022. "Including the excluded in the integrated development planning process for improved community participation," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(4), pages 286-299, June.
    7. Thabang Motswaledi & Sysman Motloung, 2024. "Understanding SOE responses to the energy crisis in Nigeria and South Africa," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 6(4), pages 327-388, September.
    8. Bhoola Sheetal & Chetty Dasarath & Moolakkattu John & Ngcobo Nolwazi & Chathukulam Jos, 2024. "A Comparative Overview of Elements of Political Economy of Urban Governance in the Global South: The cases of eThekwini Municipality (South Africa) and Cochin Municipality (India)," Journal of Economic and Social Development, Clinical Journals Press, vol. 11(01), pages 01-16.
    9. John Mamokhere, 2022. "Leaving no one behind in a participative integrated development planning process in South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(10), pages 277-291, December.
    10. Khutso Piet Lebotsa, 2022. "The Effectiveness of Public Accountability Mechanisms in the South African Local Government Context: During and Post Covid-19 Pandemic," Eurasian Journal of Social Sciences, Eurasian Publications, vol. 10(2), pages 124-130.
    11. Mohammed Faez Hasan & Noor Salah Abdelnaby Al-Ramadan, 2022. "Using Options Futures Derivatives Weather in Hedging," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 31(1), pages 430-436, May.
    12. Zenzile E. Mbinza, 2024. "Assessing South African metropolitan cities’ online place brands," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(4), pages 532-555, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:rbs:ijbrss:v:14:y:2025:i:5:p:348-357. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Umit Hacioglu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/ssbffea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.