Application of servant leadership in the delivery of strategic government projects in Gauteng Province Case Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in Kwa-Thema

This qualitative research investigates the influence of servant leadership on the execution of strategic government initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in Kwa-Thema. The project outcomes were investigated by collecting data from 10 participants using convenience sampling to investigate the impact of servant leadership traits, including empathy, commitment, empowerment, humility, ethical stewardship, long-term vision, and resilience. Thematic analysis was implemented to pinpoint critical themes and insights that were pertinent to the success and obstacles of the project. The research tackles a critical issue: project failures frequently result from inadequate leadership, which impedes team cohesion, collaboration, and overall performance (Swart et al., 2022). Additionally, the results suggest that servant leadership significantly improves project delivery by ensuring transparency, promoting collaboration, and aligning projects with community requirements. The impact of leadership on project achievement was discovered to be mediated by employee motivation and engagement. The study's limitations include its emphasis on a particular region and project type, which implies the necessity of conducting more extensive research. There are two recommendations: the integration of servant leadership principles into project management practices and the provision of targeted training for leaders to improve team dynamics and project outcomes.