Institutional and governance barriers to effective municipal waste management: stakeholder perspectives from Thabazimbi Local Municipality

Abstract Effective municipal waste management remains a significant challenge in many developing countries, where shortcomings in municipal governance and institutional capacity frequently impede service delivery and environmental sustainability. To pinpoint the barriers to efficient waste management and to develop strategies to strengthen governance and institutional capacity, it is essential to understand the perspectives of key stakeholders. This study examines stakeholders’ perspectives on the governance gaps and institutional weaknesses that hinder effective municipal waste management in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, based on 25 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including community members, municipal officials, informal waste pickers, and non-governmental organization. The study found that the municipality faces challenges, including outdated waste management bylaws, political instability, inadequate municipal waste collection services, insufficient waste infrastructure, limited stakeholder engagement, and limited community participation. The findings reveal a fragmented governance system marked by political-administrative conflict, poor inter-departmental coordination, and regulatory fragmentation stemming from outdated bylaws and weak enforcement mechanisms. Therefore, the study emphasizes the need for integrated multi-level coordination, governance, and institutional reforms to improve municipal waste management. Addressing the institutional and governance challenges identified in this study is critical not only for improving waste management in the Thabazimbi Local Municipality but also for strengthening environmental service delivery and institutional accountability across municipalities in South Africa.