This book gives an account on the third sphere of government which is local government. It focuses on aspects of this sphere of government that relate to performance in governance, service delivery and financial management. The author attributes poor performance to factors outside the municipal environment as well. Business and political actors outside the municipality have been found seeking to illegally influence decisions of role players within the municipality. Solutions must be found beyond the measures and remedies currently applied, given the fact that same such measures and remedies do not seem to be effective. Ordinary measures have been tried and tested. South Africa needs a paradigm shift in local government, which should include inter-governmental relations.