{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T21:18:31Z","timestamp":1777411111590,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768521600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A commitment to local environmental compliance is essential for ensuring a sustainable environment for future generations. Despite South Africa\u2019s extensive environmental laws, municipalities persistently exhibit non-compliance due to inadequate institutional capacity, political interference, and fragmented coordination.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study examines the determinants and strategies influencing environmental compliance in South African municipalities. Utilizing a qualitative research approach and the case study design, 10 municipalities within the KwaZulu-Natal province were sampled, 27 comprehensive interviews were conducted with 16 municipal officials, four environmental consultants (ECs), and seven environmental management inspectors (EMIs).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The findings suggest that institutional capacity, regulatory enforcement, and political support are crucial determinants of compliance. Furthermore, the study identifies awareness, capacity building, and organisational restructuring as pivotal strategies for enhancing environmental compliance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Improving municipal environmental compliance requires stronger leadership commitment, institutional capacity, consistent enforcement, and collaboration. The study contributes to environmental governance and sustainability by elucidating the role of institutional dynamics and political influence in shaping compliance. It provides a foundation for stakeholders, future research, and policy development aimed at effective environmental compliance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0338709","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]],"date-time":"2026-01-16T18:29:25Z","timestamp":1768588165000},"page":"e0338709","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Determinants and strategies for environmental compliance in municipalities: Perspectives from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-4495-5487","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Nqobile S.","family":"Zungu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4531-7162","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Gerhard P.","family":"Nortj\u00e9","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,16]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0338709.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.17159\/1727-3781\/2006\/v9i1a2811","article-title":"Improving unsustainable environmental governance in South Africa: the case for holistic governance","volume":"9","author":"L Kotze","year":"2017","journal-title":"Potchefstroom Elect Law J"},{"key":"pone.0338709.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4102\/jolgri.v4i0.136","article-title":"Measures that may assist non-performing municipalities in improving their performance","volume":"4","author":"L Nzama","year":"2023","journal-title":"Journal of Local Government Research and Innovation"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0338709.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1080\/03736245.2023.2272893","article-title":"Taking a back seat: the politicization of municipal environmental governance in South Africa","volume":"106","author":"SS Thakur","year":"2023","journal-title":"South Afr Geograph J"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0338709.ref004","article-title":"Plant communities of the uMlalazi nature reserve and their contribution to conservation in KwaZulu-Natal","volume":"60","author":"NS Zungu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Koedoe"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0338709.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1177\/1070496514525406","article-title":"Municipalities, politics, and climate change: an example of the process of institutionalizing an environmental agenda within local government","volume":"23","author":"L Pasquini","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Environ Develop"},{"key":"pone.0338709.ref006","volume-title":"Environmental compliance and enforcement in South Africa: legal perspectives","author":"A Paterson","year":"2009"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0338709.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3786","DOI":"10.3390\/su17093786","article-title":"Selective sustainability practices: evidence from local government","volume":"17","author":"NS Zungu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"issue":"5652","key":"pone.0338709.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1907","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1091015","article-title":"The struggle to govern the commons","volume":"302","author":"T Dietz","year":"2003","journal-title":"Science"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0338709.ref009","first-page":"7","article-title":"Navigating policy implementation gaps in Africa: the case of Zimbabwe","volume":"5","author":"D \u0421higudu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Finan MarkC"},{"key":"pone.0338709.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.1016\/j.promfg.2017.02.065","article-title":"The importance of communication in sustainability and sustainable strategies","volume":"8","author":"R Gen\u00e7","year":"2017","journal-title":"Procedia Manufact"},{"key":"pone.0338709.ref011","article-title":"Social and environmental reporting, sustainable development and institutional voids: evidence from a developing country","author":"I Alshbili","year":"2020","journal-title":"SSRN Journal"},{"key":"pone.0338709.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/9780262162500.003.0002","article-title":"A club theory approach to voluntary programs.","author":"M Potoski","year":"2009","journal-title":"Voluntary programs. 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