Challenges of implementing Municipal Infrastructure Grant in Greater Letaba Local Municipality

Abstract

The challenge of infrastructure backlog is widespread in most municipalities across South Africa. The infrastructure backlog presents a challenge for basic service delivery to take place in communities, particularly those with elevated number of poor households. The importance of infrastructure on service delivery and development is highlighted in the National Development Plan (NDP). The Greater Letaba Local Municipality is one the many municipalities across South Africa with persistent infrastructure backlog and underdevelopment, it is also the focus of the study. This study wants to identify challenges that are encountered in the implementation of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant as a policy instrument, in reducing the infrastructure backlog to enable the delivery of basic service. This study employs the qualitative research methodology in the collection of data and the thematic approach in the analysis of the data to derive some meaning. The techniques that will be used include semi-structure interviews, document analysis and the Greater Letaba Local Municipality will be our case study. In an endeavour to identify the challenges, it has come to light that although the municipality is able to implement MIG as a policy instrument without major challenges in the implementation phase, however the limited funds allocated to the municipality do present a serious hurdle in dealing decisively with the infrastructure backlog. This compels the municipality to looks for other ways to funds infrastructure projects, like PPP, own revenue, and infrastructure prioritization.