Abstract

SEBAKAMOTSE, JKT  and  VAN NIEKERK, T. An overview of administrative oversight and accountability at municipalities within the Free State Province. JCMAN [online]. 2020, vol.17, n.spe2, pp.37-61. ISSN 1815-7440.  https://doi.org/10.35683/jcm209.121.

In the South African context, oversight and accountability are constitutionally mandated functions of legislatures to scrutinise and oversee executive actions of any organ of state. Section 152 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter referred to as the Constitution, 1996) determines that local communities must receive democratic and accountable governance. This research aimed to determine the current challenges pertaining to administrative oversight and accountability at municipalities within the Free State province. A qualitative research approach was utilised to gain insight into administrative oversight and accountability practices at municipalities within the Free State province as a case study. Findings from the qualitative research indicated that the lack of oversight and accountability leads to the continued disregard of key local government legislation which hampers administrative oversight and accountability. The research found that municipal managers, as the head of the municipality's administration, must ensure that proper administrative internal controls are in place to promote administrative accountability. It was recommended that the oversight role of political oversight bodies and committees need to be strengthened so that the executive can be held to account.

Keywords : Oversight; administrative accountability; municipal managers; mechanisms to promote administrative accountability.

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