An investigation of the Organisational efficiencies required for the progression of City of Mbombela to a Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the organisational efficiencies necessary for the City of Mbombela to progress from secondary city to a metropolitan municipality. The City of Mbombela was formed in 2016 after the amalgamation of Mbombela and Umjindi local municipalities. The City is also the capital of Mpumalanga Province. The study followed a generic qualitative research design. Purposive sampling, in the form of stakeholder sampling, was used in order to identify and select participants interviewed through semi-structured interviews, using an interview guide (see Appendix 1).

The primary data was thematically analysed to interpret the findings. The study found that, with organisational efficiencies, political will and desire for political autonomy and fiscal benefits exclusive to metros, the Metropolitanisation saw significant prospects of success. Being a first metro in the Mpumalanga Province may improve beneficiation from spill-over effects of higher economic growth of neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, and cities in the Gauteng region. However, the study also found that the City of Mbombela faces challenge inherent to local government, such as low revenue collection, technical skills shortage, political infighting, and interference.

The study concluded that, for a viable and sustainable City of Mbombela metro to be realised, a clear tone from the leadership is the starting point; followed by a depoliticised recruitment and procurement processes; followed by an investment drive and capital infrastructure project roll-out to enhance industrialisation; LED and PPP initiatives to promote economic inclusiveness, as well as adherence to performance culture and consequence management to improve institutional capacity