Harnessing Knowledge for Good Governance: A Conceptual Framework for Transforming Municipal Service Delivery in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Abstract Municipal service-delivery failures in South Africa are often attributed to fiscal constraints, infrastructure deficits, skills shortages, political-administrative instability and weak accountability. However, insufficient attention has been given to municipalities’ capacity to recognise, acquire, retain, share, learn from and apply knowledge. This conceptual article develops a knowledge-to-governance framework for strengthening municipal service delivery, with particular reference to Mpumalanga Province. A conceptual methodology combining an integrative literature review and theory synthesis was employed. Literature was drawn from Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, JSTOR and Google Scholar, complemented by authoritative South African sources, legislation and official statistics. The synthesis integrates knowledge management, knowledge-based, organisational learning and public governance perspectives. It proposes that knowledge creates value when leadership, culture, human resource practices, structures, digital infrastructure and resources enable effective knowledge acquisition, creation, capture, sharing, application and retention. These capabilities can strengthen organisational learning and evidence-informed decision-making, thereby improving transparency, accountability, participation, responsiveness and municipal performance. Ten propositions are advanced for empirical testing. The article contributes by shifting attention from possessing information to converting dispersed knowledge into organisational learning, accountable decisions and public value. The framework has wider relevance to local governments seeking adaptive, knowledge-driven and accountable service-delivery systems.