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Community participation – lessons learned from Maluti a Phofung and Matjhabeng Municipalities

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

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Community participation – lessons learned from Maluti a Phofung and Matjhabeng Municipalities

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  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

  7. 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 information’s objectives.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. Arnstein’s Ladder of citizen participation

  11. 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 don’t own the developments

  12. 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 don’t get support from others • Sense of dignity and self confidence

  13. 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?

  14. 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

  15. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Use Municipal structures: Ms Elizabeth Sithole • Identify structures with leadership, i.e. councillors and officials • Train and support • Thorough preparations for public meetings

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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?

  23. Questions: Mme Mammie Leeu • Mme Leeu to facilitate question time

  24. Wrap up: Cllr TV Matsepe • Brief summary and impressions of workshop

  25. The end www.asalgp.co.za

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