**7. Conclusion**

Even though some progress has been made towards improving the prevention of corruption and mismanagement at municipal level, the pace is disappointingly slow. Until such time as accountability for indiscretions and offences does not take centre

*Addressing the Endemic Consequences of Corruption in the South African Local Government… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108154*

stage, acts of misconduct including irregular, unauthorised and fruitless and wasteful expenditure, as well as outright instances of theft and corruption, will continue to plague municipal finances and service delivery levels [26]. Even in the presence of all the requisite legislation, policies, processes and skills, with a culture of performance, accountability, transparency and integrity [5], addressing the endemic consequences of corruption in the South African Local Government arena will remain elusive and unresolved.

## **Conflict of interest**

The authors declare no conflict of interest.
