Factors contributing to national and provincial government debt accumulation in the Eastern Cape

The research took the form of a qualitative interpretative case study focusing on the study sample of 9 municipal officials responsible for monitoring the payment of government debt as the consumer type. Data was collected through face to face interviews by means of completing the questionnaire based on the responses from the respondent. The study examined the underlying and related causes of non-payment of government debt. The study revealed that municipalities in the Eastern Cape lack support from the other spheres of government in ensuring timeous payments of outstanding debt. Growth in debtors indicated the failure by the municipalities to implement proper debt management processes and the lack of political will to collect debts. The study recommended that municipalities need to waive interest on disputed debt and the debt in that regard be reported on the suspense account to avoid over estimation or debt that might not be recovered in the long run