Challenges on financial control and accountability in South African municipalities

Municipalities in South Africa are under pressure as a result of poor financial control and lack of accountability, leading to extensive corruption and financial mismanagement with detrimental consequences for effective and efficient service delivery. Financial control is of the utmost importance when it comes to determining the success or failure of local government in South Africa. Currently, several challenges exist that hamper effective and efficient financial management at municipalities. These challenges include, amongst others, a lack of expertise, an inability to collect arrear debt, extensive corruption, exorbitant salaries and bonuses, and so forth. These challenges also contribute towards ineffective and inefficient municipal service delivery. If municipalities want to overcome these challenges, it is essential for those involved to address matters in a sincere, honest and ethical manner. In this article the author investigates the challenges facing local government and proposes ways of overcoming the challenges by means of the enforcement of strict financial control measures for public accountability. This in effect serves as a guarantee for sound municipal financial management in South Africa.