4 IR-based capacity-building for improved service delivery and municipal readiness in South Africa

Capacity-building is a multifaceted strategy for developing competencies within entities, crucial for enhancing current skill sets. Moreover, capacity-building is the intervention that all organisations must consolidate necessary resources to enhance effectiveness and productivity. Consequently, South African towns must enhance their capabilities to implement superior public service delivery models. The paper intends to examine the importance of capacity-building interventions in South African municipalities. The primary inquiry posed in the study is, 'What factors impede the efficient implementation of service delivery in South African municipalities?' The research is qualitative and collects data from secondary sources. The literature indicates that capacity-building is successful only when all forms of capacity—institutional, network, and organizational—receive equal consideration, akin to the approach traditional organisations take with individual employee performance. It is essential to recognise the connection between capacity-building and service delivery, with the former deemed a critical necessity for municipalities in the Republic. Consequently, the study underscored the significant necessity for capacity-building within municipalities. The data was evaluated by content analysis. The findings indicate that potential exist in adopting 4IR-based service delivery within the broader context and specifically in municipal governance. This is essential as the capacity-building activities for enhanced smart governance depend on the many tools and practices defining the Fourth Industrial Revolution.