New Working Paper in the IDEAGOV Working Paper Series

IDEAGOV is pleased to announce the publication of a new Working Paper entitled “Asymmetric decentralisation and municipal governance in South Africa.” authored by Nara Monkam (University of Pretoria) and Panashe G. Taruvinga (University of Pretoria).

The paper examines how asymmetric decentralisation affects service delivery within South Africa’s local government system. Although municipalities belong to a single constitutional sphere, differentiated expenditure responsibilities and revenue arrangements generate persistent fiscal disparities across metropolitan, local and district municipalities. The study shows that stronger revenue capacity and administrative systems enable metropolitan municipalities to deliver services more reliably, while other municipalities remain highly transfer-dependent. These asymmetries reinforce vertical and horizontal inequalities and contribute to uneven service outcomes.

The findings highlight the need for better alignment between functions and fiscal capacity, targeted equalisation mechanisms, and clearer mandates to support more equitable and sustainable local governance.

📄 The Working Paper is available at:https://www.ideagov.eu/wp