A conceptual public participation framework for ward committees to promote local government democracy

Abstract

Public participation in government affairs can be traced back to pre-modern times (Fayemi, 2009:3, Campbell 2008:5). In present-day South Africa, public participation in government affairs is a principle that is provided for in the Constitution, 1996. This study develops a conceptual public participation framework for ward committees. The framework will assist ward committees in the Ventersdorp region of Northwest 405 Municipality to effectively promote local democracy through enhanced public participation. This framework is developed in this study based on empirical research as well as a literature review. The literature review explored the statutory prescripts of public participation and the regulatory framework for ward committees. These sought to place public participation at the centre of municipal planning and local community development. The empirical aspect of this study was conducted in the Ventersdorp region of Northwest 405 Municipality. Using a qualitative research methodology, interviews were conducted with eight municipal officials that are responsible for public participation in the municipality. Furthermore, sixty-six questionnaires were distributed to six ward committees that make up the Ventersdorp region of Northwest 405 Municipality. The findings from the empirical study indicate that ward committees in the Ventersdorp region are faced with numerous challenges. In this regard, the study came up with recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of ward committees, anchored by a public participation framework, in the Ventersdorp region