Community participation

1
Community participation lessons learned from
Maluti a Phofung and Matjhabeng Municipalities
Facilitator Ms Elizabeth Sithole Presenters
Ms Susan Ferguson Mr George Moahloli Councillor
TV Matsepe, Speaker of Matjhabeng Councillor Mme
Mammie Leeu, Speaker of Maluti a Phofung Mr
Mofokeng Mothinya Mr Mohlabane Molefe
2
Introduction Ms Elizabeth Sithole

• Format of the session
• Introduction of participants

3
Introduction Ms Susan Ferguson

• Purpose of the session
• Brief intro of both activities

4
The legislative framework Councillor Matsepe,
Speaker of Matjhabeng

• Section 73 of the Municipal Structures Act
  (establishment of ward committees)
• Section 74 of the Municipal Structures Act
  (function and powers of ward committees)
• Section 16 (1), Municipal Systems Act
• Municipality must
• Encourage and create the conditions for the local
  community to participate in the affairs of the
  municipality
• Contribute to building the capacity of the local
  community
• Use its resources to annually allocate funds in
  its budget

5
What is public participation? George Moahloli
and Elizabeth Sithole

• George Community participation refers to
  arrangements for communities to participate in
  the processes used to make good policy and to
  deliver on programs and services. It covers a
  broad spectrum of interactions, ranging from one
  way information sharing, to two-way consultation
  and active participation in decision making
  processes.
• A democratic process of engaging people within
  specific geographic areas in thinking, deciding,
  planning, implementing, and monitoring the
  development and operation of services that affect
  their lives.
• A PROCESS and not an end in itself!!

6
Involving the community Elizabeth

• Representation in coordinating committee
• Partnership between municipality, service
  providers and communities
• Broad representation of communities
• Planning for meetings
• Meeting with communities
• Deciding on a way forward

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What is public participation? George Moahloli

• Information Sharing (eg. Awareness activities
  and programmes)
• Accuracy and relevance of the information.
• Appropriateness of the information and delivery
  mechanism for the target audience
• Equity of access to the information.
• Target audience evaluation of the usefulness and
  suitability of the information measured against
  the informations objectives.

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What is public participation? George Moahloli

• Consultation (eg. Ward committees, public
  forums)
• Level of Community involvement in the activity
• Level of satisfaction with the process.
• Sufficiency of time and resources allocated to
  the activity.
• The effectiveness and appropriateness of feedback
  throughout the consultation process.
• The extent to which the consultation outcome
  informed decision making.

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What is public participation? George Moahloli

• Active Participation(deliberative processes,
  ward committees and partnerships)
• The effectiveness of Government-community
  deliberative networks.
• The extent to which the capacity of citizens to
  engage is strengthened.
• The extent to which participants fulfil their
  roles and responsibilities.
• Increased community understanding of government
  processes.

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Arnsteins Ladder of citizen participation
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Problems of non-participation Cllr Mme Mammie
Leeu

• Triple c confusion, conflict, chaos
• Loss of confidence in the council
• Withdrawal of support for municipal structures
• Passive participation and non/participation
• People dont own the developments

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Benefits of public participation Cllr Mme Mammie
Leeu

• the people shall govern Freedom Charter
• Minimises and eliminates destructive conflict
• Creation of a supportive environment
• Community can deal with problems constructively
• Destructive elements dont get support from
  others
• Sense of dignity and self confidence

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What do you think? Mr Mofokeng Mothinya

• Those of you who work in municipalities, how do
  you involve the community in your business?
• What are the difficulties you face in involving
  the community?
• What works for you and what does not?

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What I learnt Mr Mofokeng Mothinya

• People were not involved at the beginning of
  water meter process so lack of understanding
• Incorrect assumptions in community about water
  metre installation
• Payment of rates
• Employed people find it difficult to pay cash
  flat rate deducted from salaries
• Wanted to pay but quality of services not
  satisfactory
• Public participation
• Learnt protocols necessary to connect with
  municipality and how ward committees worked
• Municipality and community very interested in
  learning how to connect more

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Public participation scenario Mr Mohlabane
Molefe

• An example of public participation e.g. the water
  meter installation in Maluti a Phofung.
• What would you do to include the community in
  this case?
• How would you work with ward committees to
  include them in this process?

16
What WE did Mr Mohlabane Molefe

• Identification of stakeholders in the wards
• Office of the speaker role
• Identified different ways of consulting the
  community
• Convened meetings to give feedback to communities

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Snapshot of participation in Maluti a Phofung Ms
Elizabeth Sithole

• Build on current applicable policies and
  legislations
• Start where the municipality is
• Address practical service delivery issues
  practice vs hypothetical situations

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Involving local advisors Ms Elizabeth Sithole

• Identify local advisers
• Agree on definition and approach
• Train, support and mentor
• Build on strengths
• Joint allocation of responsibilities

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Use Municipal structures Ms Elizabeth Sithole

• Identify structures with leadership, i.e.
  councillors and officials
• Train and support
• Thorough preparations for public meetings

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Public meeting Ms Elizabeth Sithole

• Ensure wide representation
• Council to lead discussions
• Mayor to give overview
• Speaker to facilitate
• Officials to provide technical information as may
  be required
• Public meeting provides avenue for showing the
  solidarity among council reps

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How ward committee system in Matjhabeng would
include community Mr George Moahloli

• Conduct a public awareness program
• Allocate members to portfolio committees of the
  council
• Deployment of ward committees to various
  activities within the wards
• Make sure members are visible within the
  community
• Allocate responsibilities to members for
  awareness campaign
• Capture reports from members within ward
  committee meetings

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Workshop questions Ms Elizabeth Sithole

• Are there lessons, information or products from
  these two activities that have made a difference?
• If so, what are three things that we can do to
  make this difference last?

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Questions Mme Mammie Leeu

• Mme Leeu to facilitate question time

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Wrap up Cllr TV Matsepe

• Brief summary and impressions of workshop

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The end
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