This article investigates the effects of urban sprawl on the provision of basic services in South African's local municipalities. The reason for urban expansion and rapid growth in South Africa can be traced to the apartheid policy of the previous government when certain areas were reserved for a certain race. The urban population and the expansion of built-up areas place a strain on infrastructure and services such as water, electricity, roads, and health care facilities. The municipality's financial resources are continuously stretched thin due to the need to provide services to the growing populace of cities. This article reports on a qualitative desktop-based study research method to gather data on the extent that urban sprawl affects the service provision to citizens of South Africa. Data was gathered from secondary sources and existing literature, on the driving forces of urban sprawl, the challenges facing service prov