Local governance programme

Analysis

NEW! Download the Recognising Community voice and dissatisfaction: A Civil Society Perspective on Local Governance in South Africa, published by the Good Governance Learning Network 2011.

The recurring community protests, especially as these intensified in 2009/10, exposed some uncomfortable truths about the state and wellbeing of local governance in South Africa. Without a doubt, the anger, disenchantment and frustration that have driven these forms of mobilisation need to be recognised and more inclusive and respectful means of engagement need to be facilitated.

This publication is the result of a collective process of reflection on the meaning and implications of community protests for local governance by the Good Governance Learning Network (GGLN). These reports are intended as a civil society assessment of the key challenges, debates and areas of progress with regard to governance and development at the local level in South Africa. A further aim is to provide local government policy makers and practitioners with insights and practical recommendations to improve policy, guidelines, systems and interventions, where necessary.

Voter education

Download the South Africa 2011 Local Government Elections voter education booklet, developed by Jacana Media, the IEC and EISA. Available in English. It will be translated into all 11 offical languages as well as into Braille.

After several years of supporting and encouraging communities to participate in elections, EISA recognised a need to engage local commununities between elections. EISA believes that for democracy to become a reality rather than a theory, it is important for citizens to be able to engage with the structures that support it and the leaders who have been elected to represent the interests of their constituents.

The programme

• focuses upon enabling citizen participation by working closely with communities to identify the skills, values and knowledge required to participate in decision making processes that affect their daily lives.
• aims to empower municipal officials, councillors, ward committees and civil society to engage effectively in democratic governance and sustainable service delivery
• provides capacity building, information provision and technical support to civil society organistions in their efforts to advocate for democratic and accountable governance