An investigation of antecedent factors of organisational performance in selected local municipalities in the Vaal region

Abstract

South African local municipalities are important governmental spheres that are mandated to provide adequate service to local communities. This strategic objective highlights their crucial role as a vital conduit for addressing the socio-economic challenges that plague South African society, which is characterized by high unemployment and inadequate service delivery. Those deficiencies are primarily found in municipalities that perform poorly, which, despite their importance, appear to be lacking in terms of fulfilling their constitutional mandate. Given the presented rationalisation, this study seeks to explore the strategic drivers of municipal organizations' performance objectives. Particular attention was paid to three key factors, namely, organisational culture, ethical leadership, and resource allocation, as determinants of employee and organisational performance. The study focused on the selected municipalities in the Vaal region, which encompasses the Emfuleni, Lesedi, and Sedibeng municipalities. The study employed a quantitative approach, informed by the positivist paradigm, using a combination of descriptive and correlational designs. A simple random sample technique was used to collect data from 400 municipal employees using a structured questionnaire. Hypotheses were formulated, and SEM was used to test them. All four were supported, outlining the organisational culture, resource allocation, and ethical leadership as critical antecedents of employee performance, while the latter was established to positively influence organisational performance.