The advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 started the process of public sector change and transformation. Influenced by Western ideals, South Africa adopted various strategies aimed at improving public sector service delivery across the spheres of government. Of key interest and among these varied approaches are performance management systems and the experiences that public-sector institutions have had in implementing these systems post-1994. While numerous laws and policies have been introduced to enforce the implementation of performance management, public sector departments and agencies are struggling with implementation. Local government municipalities have come under scrutiny and criticism for not complying with various policy stipulations prescribing the implementation of performance management systems (PMS). Evidence suggests that the "developmental" approach adopted by local government officials responsible fo