The impact of human resource management in the successful governanceof ditsobotla local municipality : a case study

Abstract

The aim of this descriptive and evaluative research study is to assess the impact achieved by human resource management practices in the governance of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality. As part of local government, Ditsobotla Local Municipality is an independent sphere of government and has specific functions assigned and regulated in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Municipalities are responsible for delivery of services to local communities in the form of water, electricity, sanitation, waste and sewage disposal, roads, municipal health services, recreational facilities and housing construction. The 2011 municipal elections recorded the highest voter turnout rate in municipal elections in South Africa since 2000; yet, the local sphere of government has also felt the brunt of popular discontent. Dissatisfaction with the service delivery rate, quality of housing and basic services has been the main driver of protests across the country, but increasingly governance-related factors have been brought to the fore. This descriptive and evaluative study is undertaken in case study format with particular interest in the role of HRM in the governance capacity of the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in light of the massive service delivery expectations of communities. This research study not only has internal validity for Ditsobotla Municipality but also external contextual importance for all HRM practitioners in the SA local government sector. In the process of conducting the study, stratified random sampling is utilised on on ordinary employees and managers employed by Ditsobotla municipality as well as members of the Ditsobotla community.