An examination into the reasons for interventionism in selected North-West Province Municipalities

Abstract

The practice of municipal Intervention is intended to rescue municipalities that have failedto fulfil their executive obligations, to improve municipal performance. However, the declaration of such interventions remains controversial, given the rise of the political administrative interface. Another factor that exacerbates the ineffectiveness of municipal interventions is the lack of proper implementation of the guiding principles of Section 139(1) interventions, as prescribed in the Constitution. Consequently, municipal Interventions fail to yield the intended results and worsen the state of municipalities instead. This study used the International Relations theory of interventionism and the good reasons theory to justify the reasons for municipal intervention. Municipal intervention is a phenomenon commonly examined in Public Administration and Law, while the practice of interventionism is commonly used in International Relations and Economics, to prevent human rights violations and influence market prices, respectively. Thus, the significance of the study to examine the reasons for interventionism in selected North West municipalities is a true political science topic. The case study research design was vital for a thorough analysis of the reasons for interventionism in municipalities. The qualitative nature of this study allowed for the use of document analysis, including accredited academic journals, books and government signed-off reports. The findings of this study indicate a worsening condition of municipalities that have been placed under Section 139(1) interventions. This is caused by non-compliance with the guiding framework for municipal interventions and using interventions as a political weapon (weaponisation of Section 139(1) instruments). The study therefore recommends alternative measures to help ailing municipalities. Such measures include capacity building of municipal officials to institutionalise and implement the resolutions of municipal administrators, in addition to strengthening municipal support and municipal oversight.