Abstract
While Total Quality Management (TQM) has been used successfully
in the private sector, its successful application in the local government
sector is still debatable. There are world-wide cases where TQM has
been used in the public sector, but its application in the South African
local government sector is relatively new. The purpose of this article is to
examine the extent to which TQM can be applied at the local government
level in South Africa. TQM can assist institutions to improve better service
to their communities and their own employees. The article argues that
TQM has relevance in the local government sector in South Africa, after
an assessment of two case studies, one drawn from a local government
and another from an organised local government association.