Consequence Management for Irregular Expenditure and Procurement Irregularities: A Qualitative Study of Councillors' Insights and Perspectives in KwaZulu-Natal.

Background and relevance: Irregular expenditure remains a pervasive issue in South African municipalities, undermining public trust and compromising service delivery. Consequence management is a critical tool for addressing this problem. Objective: This study explores councillors' perspectives on the implementation of consequence management for irregular expenditure in KwaZulu-Natal municipalities. In addition to examining councillors' perspectives, the study identifies key factors that contribute to accountability gaps and corruption. Data and Methodology used: This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with ten councillors from KwaZulu-Natal municipalities. Results: The findings indicate a widespread absence of accountability and consequence management in these municipalities, primarily attributed to factors such as a lack of political will among councillors, non-functional Municipal Public Accounts Committees, missing tender records, threats, assassinations, cadre deployments, and the involvement of mafia gangs. Overall, the study found that consequence management was non-existent. The findings reveal coordination and collaboration among politicians, councillors, businessmen, contractors, and professionals in looting municipal resources, including the use of assassins to silence opposition. Implications: The results provide valuable insights for Parliament and the National Treasury to develop targeted prescripts and strengthen consequence management systems involved in irregular expenditure. To address these issues, it is crucial to empower Municipal Public Accounts Committees, foster collective political leadership, establish and enforce municipal policies prioritising socio-economic well-being, and cultivate a culture of consequence management among councillors.