Last week saw the launch of two important initiatives that can only enhance service delivery in municipalities.

Last week saw the launch of two important initiatives that can only enhance service delivery in municipalities.

In Gauteng, there was the establishment of municipal public accounts committees - local-level equivalents to the select committees on public accounts (Scopa) that hold public servants in both the provincial and national assemblies accountable.

At national level, parliament established a team to visit municipalities to assess the state of service delivery in municipalities.

This initiative sees members of the National Council of Provinces visiting provinces to get direct feedback from people most affected.

Both initiatives are steps in the right direction.

The MPACs increase accountability within a vulnerable area of financial accountability.

It has been shown that the challenge in service delivery is not necessarily lack of resources, but how those resources are utilised.

Parliament's initiative will go a long way towards bringing to the fore the real causes of the recent service delivery protests.

This will enable the government to come up with solutions that will normalise volatile situations in several municipalities.

It is only in a stable environment that the government can come up with sustainable solutions that go beyond merely throwing money at service delivery problems.