The spending of municipal infrustructure grant at Ba-Phalaborwa municipality

Abstract

Background: In the period between 2014 and 2019, several municipalities in Limpopo demonstrated an inability to expend the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funds allocated to them by the National Treasury within the provided timelines. As a result, monies were returned to the National Treasury and communities forfeited the expected infrastructure developments. The Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality was not exempt from this problem.

Aim: This article investigated the factors impeding the spending of MIG funds in Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality.

Methods: A qualitative research approach was followed, using a literature review and interviews to collect data with a convenient sample of key informants who were also local government officials.

Results: The study found that a lack of planning for the municipality’s consolidated MIG application, community unrest and inadequate monitoring mechanisms, among others, were the prime factors impeding the overall spending of MIG funds in the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality.

Conclusion: The municipality needs to act proactively, especially with consolidating MIG applications, which will provide officials with sufficient time to assemble the necessary tools, charting a way forward for spending the MIG, which translates into service delivery and infrastructure development in the municipality.

Contribution: This article confirmed findings that emanated from the existing literature as far as implementation of MIG was concerned in municipalities. However, lessons from Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality showed that the extent to which such problems affected municipalities could differ, depending on factors such as political management and municipal capacity. Strategies peculiar to the Ba-Phalaborwa environment are proffered, especially with respect to the enhancement of the spending of MIG funds for improved service delivery provision through infrastructure development.