Enhancing the Leadership of Ward Councillors through Emotional Intelligence: The Case of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

This article focuses on how emotional intelligence could be utilised to enhance the leadership skill of ward councillors in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. In this article, the concept of emotional intelligence is considered to include aspects such as self-awareness, motivation, self-management, social awareness, relationship management and empathy. Data were collected through focus group interviews, questionnaires and a review of relevant literature. The focus group interviews conducted with ward committee members revealed that members of the public perceived a lack of communication with and trust in ward councillors, among other things, to be contributory factors to escalating challenges in the municipal area, such as service delivery protests and strikes. The article suggests that the development of emotional intelligence by ward councillors could benefit them as political leaders.