A Doctor of Philosophy in Management qualification was conferred upon Dr Andiswa Mosai – a South African politician and current Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature – during the Autumn Graduation ceremonies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Mosai’s thesis, titled: ‘Enhancing Effective Corporate Governance in Local Government: A Case of Sedibeng District, Gauteng Province, South Africa’, was supervised by Public Governance expert Professor Purshottama Reddy and Management specialist Professor Emmanuel Mutambara.
Mosai’s study explored ways to strengthen corporate governance within South Africa’s local government sphere, using the Sedibeng District Municipality as a case study.
The findings revealed a disconnect between governance policies and their actual implementation, as well as political interference in administrative processes, which undermines decision-making and accountability. The study also identified ineffective performance management systems, inadequate skills and institutional capacity, a lack of ethical leadership, financial mismanagement, and poor planning as major contributors to service delivery backlogs and weak municipal performance.
To enhance corporate governance in South African municipalities, Mosai recommends strengthening the independence and authority of municipal oversight structures, such as audit committees and public accounts committees, to ensure that their recommendations result in meaningful governance improvements.
The study further recommends sustained capacity-building initiatives to address technical and administrative skills shortages that hinder the implementation of governance frameworks. In addition, it calls for greater clarity and co-ordination between district and local municipalities to reduce duplication and inefficiencies in service delivery, in line with the objectives of the District Development Model.
Mosai also emphasises the importance of deepening citizen participation mechanisms to ensure that public input genuinely shapes municipal decision-making processes, thereby fostering accountability and public trust. Furthermore, she advocates for the cultivation of a governance culture rooted in ethical leadership and public accountability.
Her research offers valuable insights that can inform policy reforms and practical strategies aimed at improving governance practices, service delivery and public confidence in municipalities. The study also bridges the gap between academic theory and the lived realities of municipal governance.
In an effort to fast-track service delivery reforms, Mosai and her supervisor Reddy have already published an article titled: The Nexus Between Corporate Governance and Service Delivery in South African Local Municipalities: The Case of Sedibeng District Municipality in the International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management.
She plans to share the findings through internal communication channels within the legislature, by tabling the report during house sittings, placing it in the legislature library, and collaborating with institutions such as the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Having served on several multi-sector boards, including working at Transnet, Portnet, and PetroSA, Mosai brings extensive experience in corporate governance and service delivery. She currently serves as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (MPL), Chairperson of the Finance Portfolio Committee, and member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).
She previously served as Proportional Representation Councillor and Speaker of the Sedibeng District Municipality, Director at Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) for the Community Development Work Programme (CDWP), and as a social worker.
Mosai encourages senior public servants to pursue postgraduate studies, highlighting the ability of such work to sharpen critical thinking beyond immediate operational challenges. “The studies help you reflect more deeply and encourages a shift from managing symptoms to understanding the root causes of governance failures, institutional weaknesses, and policy implementation gaps,” she said.
Mosai views her academic achievement not merely as a personal accomplishment, but as a professional investment in better public leadership. “This achievement carries a responsibility – it is a platform from which I can contribute more effectively, whether through policy engagement, oversight work or institutional reform. In that sense, the real value lies in how the knowledge is applied to improve systems and ultimately serve communities better,’ she said.
Speaking on behalf of the supervision team Reddy said: “Dr Mosai has been a dedicated student, and it was indeed a pleasure promoting her doctoral thesis. She worked with minimal supervision, even in terms of getting her first article published – congratulations!”
UKZN Convocation member Mr Siphile Buthelezi congratulated Mosai and commended her on the relevance of her research topic. “May this achievement present great opportunities for you while the broader society benefits from your leadership. South Africa is faced with struggling local governments due to a lack of ethical, responsible and effective leadership. Therefore, you could not have chosen a better thesis topic at this crucial moment for local government. Keep shining and a luta continua!” said Buthelezi.
Words: Hazel Langa
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini