Records management for transparency and accountability on land allocation at the Nkambeni Tribal Authority in Mpumalanga province of South Africa

Abstract

Proper records management practices are central to principles of good governance, such as accountability and transparency. This study investigated the impact of records management practices on land allocation in the Nkambeni Tribal Authority in Mpumalanga. The study was guided by the records life cycle model to track the phases through which the land allocation records in the Nkambeni Tribal Authority go from the time they were created to the time they were disposed. A qualitative research approach was used to collect data through interviews with community members that were conveniently sampled for the study. Secondly, the researcher observed how land registrations were handled during visits that were made when seeking permission to conduct the study and subsequently during interviews that were conducted for the study. The data was analysed thematically according to the key objectives of the study. The results suggested that records were in a bad state and were still managed manually. Furthermore, officials managing records did not have the proper records management skills or qualifications required to manage such important records. Furthermore, the study revealed that there were constant disputes and court cases created by land grabbers due to poor records management. The study concluded that records related to land allocation at the Nkambeni Tribal Authority office were in a bad state and were not properly managed. The current records management practices at the tribal office are negatively affecting the life span of the records. This will negatively impact future use of these records, which will potentially put future generations on collision courses due to a lack of records that may be needed to solve land disputes. The tribal authority office needs to employ people with proper records management skills and qualifications to take care of these important records throughout their life cycle.