Peacebuilding through Public Participation Mechanisms in Local Government: The Case Study of Mbizana Local Municipality, South Africa

Aboriginal peoples in Canada present a special case of citizen involvement in forest governance, with rights and statusthat go beyond those of other stakeholders and individuals. Increasingly, participation processes aimed specifically atAboriginal representatives are being used to encourage their involvement in forest management. This article asks whatwould be the characteristics of a distinct process that could respond to Aboriginal rights, needs and expectations. We doso by combining the results of a broad Québec-wide study with those from a case study of forestry participation in a singlecommunity. A total of 68 consultation processes are analyzed. These experiences enable the identification of severalcharacteristics of consultation processes used for First Nations. We also note that distinct consultations typically reflectthe same practices that are used more generally for public participation in forestry, raising the question of whether or notthese consultations truly respond to Aboriginal rights, needs and expectations in Québec.Key words: Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal forestry, forest management, public participation mechanisms, duty to consult,Canada

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Invasive alien plant species: A case study of their use in the Thulamela Local Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Scientific Research and Essays ◽

10.5897/sre11.2075 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (27) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sebua S. Semenya,

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Plant Species ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Alien Plant Species ◽

Alien Plant ◽

Invasive Alien Plant ◽

Local Municipality

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The potential of mobile phones for increasing public participation in local government in South Africa

The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa ◽

10.4102/td.v11i3.65 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hannah Thinyane ◽

Ingrid Siebörger ◽

Edward Reynell

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Local Government ◽

Public Participation ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Critical Discussion ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Current State ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

Mobile Phone Usage ◽

Ict For Development

This paper presents a critical discussion on the current use of technology and participation in local government. It discusses the rise in popularity of mobile devices, and how they have been used in ICT for development. The paper describes the results of a baseline study undertaken in a city within Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, to empirically investigate how residents are currently using mobile phones and participating with local government around the area of service delivery. The findings illustrate the current state of mobile phone usage and capabilities, and the potential for using the mobile platform to increase participation in local government in South Africa. The paper also can be used to inform and guide project stakeholders on how best to implement m-participation strategies.

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Municipal Instruments in Law for Cultural Heritage Protection: A Case Study of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad ◽

10.17159/1727-3781/2021/v24i0a6435 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 1-34

Author(s):

Rochine Melandri Steenkamp

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Resource Management ◽

Local Government ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Cape Town ◽

Policy Documents ◽

Government Functions ◽

The Republic ◽

The City

This article questions the extent to which municipal bylaws aimed at cultural heritage resource management (CHRM) reflect the objectives of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution), national legislation and the discourse on cultural governance more broadly. In terms of Schedule 4A of the Constitution, the function of "cultural matters" is not an original power of local government. It is a function assigned to the national and provincial spheres. Municipalities are assumed, however, to have a responsibility to execute aspects of this function that may be incidental to other typical local government functions. This view finds support in the interpretation of various rights in the Constitution (e.g. sections 15, 30, 31 and 24) as well as the heritage, environmental and local government framework legislation and policy documents of South Africa. The premise of this article is that cultural heritage resource management by way of instruments such as bylaws promotes the overarching objectives of local government, such as sustainable development, while also promoting the rights to culture, language and religion, amongst others. To expand on its theoretical basis, this article provides a critical assessment of the bylaws of the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality

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MobiSAM: Reflections from a four year case study using technology to increase public participation in local government in South Africa

The Journal of Community Informatics ◽

10.15353/joci.v13i1.3292 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hannah Thinyane ◽

Ingrid Siebörger

Keyword(s):

Local Government ◽

Public Participation ◽

Political Stability ◽

Design Development ◽

Community Based ◽

System A ◽

Communication Capacity ◽

Education And Awareness ◽

Awareness Raising

This paper reflects on a four year evaluation on the use of a mobile platform, MobiSAM, to support increased public participation in local government. It describes the lessons learnt in the design, development and evaluation of the initiative. MobiSAM uses a community based co-design methodology, emphasizing the importance of community’s voices throughout the design and evaluation of the project. Attention is drawn to the education and awareness raising interventions undertaken in order to scaffold the deployment of the system. A discussion of the findings of the project is also provided in order for other actors in the field to learn from MobiSAM’s successes and failures. Special attention is focused on the political stability and communication capacity required to successfully undertake initiatives such as this.

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Community Participation in Mahikeng Local Municipality: Power Relations Perspective

Journal of Asian and African Studies ◽

10.1177/0021909619882705 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 446-456

Author(s):

Mandla Mfundo Masuku ◽

Mokgadi Patience Molope

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Public Participation ◽

Community Participation ◽

Power Relations ◽

Local Governance ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Local Municipality ◽

Constitutional Right ◽

The Impact

In South Africa, community members have the constitutional right to partake in local governance and the local municipal council has the constitutional mandate to facilitate community participation. Qualitative research was used to assess the impact of power relations on community participation in the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The study findings indicate that power differentials contributed to the abandonment of the legislative provisions in the Mahikeng Local Municipality in the North-West Province of South Africa. Among other things, this paper recommends finalisation of the draft public participation framework. The framework should clearly identify and define the roles of the community, elected councillors and traditional authorities. The paper recommends the development of a strategy that includes clear and comprehensive public participation guidelines, protocols and processes to facilitate implementation of the framework. In consultation with the community, a detailed community participation schedule must be developed, implemented and continuously monitored and evaluated.

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The Impact of Perceptions of Tribalism and Ethnicity on Public Administration in South Africa: A Case Study of the Vuwani in the Vhembe District

Politeia ◽

10.25159/2663-6689/4663 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Mavhungu Elias Musitha ◽

Mavhungu Abel Mafukata

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Public Administration ◽

Ethnic Disparities ◽

Primary Data ◽

National Unity ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Local Municipality ◽

Vhembe District ◽

The Impact

This study investigated the impact of perceptions of ethnicity and tribalism on public administration in South Africa with reference to the protests of Vuwani communities in 2016 against their area being re-demarcated to fall under the LIM 345 municipality (later named the Collins Chabane Local Municipality) dominated by Xitsonga speakers. The study adopted qualitative and exploration designs and used a literature review and key informant interviews in order to obtain secondary and primary data respectively. This study revealed that Vuwani communities feared domination by the Xitsonga-speaking majority in the proposed new municipality. The council of the proposed new municipality consisted of 72 councillors, 74 per cent of which were Xitsonga-speaking councillors and a mere 26 per cent were Tshivenda-speaking councillors. It also found that perceptions of ethnicity and tribalism in Vuwani had rendered public administration ineffective, thus bringing service delivery to a halt for several months. The study recommended that policy-makers should abolish majority representation based solely on regionalism and should seek to forge national unity. It concluded that the establishment of public institutions based on ethnic homogeneity had the potential of bringing about peace and stability in areas characterised by ethnic disparities.

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