This article investigates challenges to public policy implementation, specifically focusing on the Free State Province. Implementation challenges identified were linked to the 5-C protocol and the extended 7-C protocol of successful policy implementation, as originally identified by Najam (1995), thereby, bridging the gap between practice and theory. Academic value was added by recommending identified responses as proposed interventions. Qualitative research was undertaken emphasising the quality of information and the depth it could provide. To ensure quality of information only scholarly articles, scholarly literature, and signed-off government reports, policies and plans were utilised. In order to provide examples of corruption, newspaper articles were included. A deductive app