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Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613900118163456 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Booysen, Malcolm Leon |
| author2 | Ajam, Tania |
| author_browse | Ajam, Tania Booysen, Malcolm Leon |
| author_facet | Ajam, Tania Booysen, Malcolm Leon |
| author_sort | Booysen, Malcolm Leon |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135633 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:29.289Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135633 Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities Booysen, Malcolm Leon Ajam, Tania Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2026. Booysen, M. L. 2026. Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/60928975-c067-401b-9aa4-b3e471b88d9b In 2024, South Africa celebrated a significant milestone: 30 years of democracy. Over the past three decades, the government and municipalities have made notable progress in providing services such as water and electricity to ensure universal access for all citizens. However, prolonged economic stagnation since the 2008 global recession, high unemployment, and rising poverty continue to pose challenges, putting pressure on the government to maintain basic service delivery. The water and electricity sectors are closely intertwined and mutually dependent for optimal functioning. Both sectors contribute to economic growth and social well-being, and both sectors’ sustainability has been affected by supply chain constraints and changing consumption patterns. Water and electricity are classified as trading services and constitute primary sources of income for municipalities. Challenges in these sectors negatively impact municipal sustainability, as municipalities confront growing debts and the loss of high-end customers seeking alternative solutions. The lack of repairs and maintenance of infrastructure further contributes to revenue loss and costly ad-hoc repairs, as well as shortening the economic lifespan of infrastructure. South Africa’s local government sector faces governance, service delivery, and sustainability challenges. However, municipalities in the Western Cape demonstrate that it is possible to achieve sound financial sustainability, maintain high levels of good financial governance, and facilitate improved access to services for citizens. This research was commissioned to evaluate the underlying reasons for municipal underperformance in capital budget spending and the associated impact on asset management. Municipal capital budgets are funded through three primary sources: intergovernmental grants, internally generated funds (IGFs) and borrowing. Intergovernmental grants have crowded out IGFs and borrowing, and in general, municipalities have ample scope to increase borrowing. For this study, a case study approach was used to identify eight municipalities across four of the five Western Cape districts. An interview guide was developed, and interviews were held with the Chief Financial Officers and Technical Directors at the municipalities. Thereafter, unstructured interviews were conducted with the respective Municipal Managers. The study confirmed that municipalities generally underspend their capital budgets and make inadequate provision for repairs and maintenance. The availability of qualified and experienced personnel, adherence to supply chain management (SCM) processes, application of council policies and interaction with the community are critical for the successful implementation of capital budgets. Capital budgets are biased toward new infrastructure rather than upgrading existing infrastructure. Despite general underperformance, basic service delivery has not regressed, as municipalities prioritise spending their infrastructure grants to avoid forfeiting them. Doctoral 2026-04-07T06:05:09Z 2026-04-07T06:05:09Z 2026-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135633 en Stellenbosch University 494 pages : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Booysen, Malcolm Leon Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title | Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title_full | Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title_short | Enhancing the Financing and Implementation of Local Government Capital Budgets: A Case Study of Electricity and Water Infrastructure in Selected Western Cape Municipalities |
| title_sort | enhancing the financing and implementation of local government capital budgets a case study of electricity and water infrastructure in selected western cape municipalities |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135633 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT booysenmalcolmleon enhancingthefinancingandimplementationoflocalgovernmentcapitalbudgetsacasestudyofelectricityandwaterinfrastructureinselectedwesterncapemunicipalities |