Challenges
- Institutional inertia: One of the primary challenges is the resistance from within the institutions responsible for implementing the new regulations. Employees and managers may be reluctant to adopt new methods, fearing increased workload or disruption of established routines. This is especially evident with municipalities, where inadequate budgeting and skills is being touted as a challenge.
- Stakeholder interests: Conflicting priorities among stakeholders, such as municipalities, private companies, and local communities, can impede progress. For example, municipalities might resist costly infrastructure upgrades, while private companies may oppose operational cost increases.
- Economic constraints: Implementing new regulations often require substantial financial investment. Many municipalities are already struggling with budget constraints, so finding the necessary funds can be a significant hurdle.
- Lack of awareness and understanding: Stakeholders may not fully grasp the benefits or the necessity of the changes, leading to opposition based on misinformation or fear of the unknown. We have seen this from many who have not thoroughly read the regulation, and assume that it refers to all professionals, and not the specifically mentioned professional process controllers.
- Historical and social context: South Africa’s history of inequality fosters distrust of government initiatives among marginalised communities. Many process controllers perceive the regulation as a constraint rather than an empowering tool.
