scholarly journals Participatory Democracy in Theory and Practice: A Case Study of Local Government in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Ntsikelelo Breakfast ◽  
Itumeleng Mekoa ◽  
Nondumiso Maphazi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
The Political ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
Scholarly Contribution ◽  
Government Level

The idea of democracy is a curious oneand puzzling. There is reason for this;everyone talks about democracy no matter whether their views are on the left, centreor right of the political spectrum. Various politicians, regimes, whether in Africa, Europe or America claim to be democratic;yet what each says and does is usuallydifferent. Democracy as a practice is supposed to bestow rules, laws and decisions that are justifiable on democraticgrounds. Democracy also has evolved through social struggles. This article examines the practice of democracy withinthe context of local government in South Africa, and is an attempt to explore the concept of democracy without escaping other historical aspects of the idea and practice. From a methodological standpoint, this article is based on a literature assessment. Lastly and most importantly, this paper has made a scholarly contribution to the scholarship of Political Science and Public Administration with regard to the nexus between democracy and public participation at local government level in South Africa.

scholarly journals Water security at local government level in South Africa: a qualitative interview-based analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. S17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Meissner ◽  
Nikki Funke ◽  
Karen Nortje ◽  
Inga Jacobs-Mata ◽  
Elliot Moyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Qualitative Interview ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Government Level

scholarly journals The Political-administrative interface in South African municipalities: Assessing the quality of local democracies

2010 ◽  
pp. 86-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaap De Visser
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
South African ◽  
Separation Of Powers ◽  
Administrative Leadership ◽  
The Political ◽  
Executive Authority ◽  
Political Interference ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Government Level

South African municipalities experience serious challenges in dealing wit the interface between politicians and officials. Inappropriate political interference in administrative matters as well as strained relations between key political and administrative officials in the municipalities appear to be the order of the day. Oftentimes, the lack of a separation of powers between legislative and executive authority at local government level is blamed for this. This contribution has attempted to draw the attention away from the conflation of legislative and executive authority in the municipal council while still recognising it as an important background. It is suggested that, instead of spending energy on examining a possible separation of powers in local government, the relevant stakeholders (i.e. national lawmakers, municipalities and supervising provinces) should consider smaller institutional changes to the governance makeup of municipalities. Even more importantly, the political and administrative leadership of municipalities and political structures that surround them should be acutely aware of the consequences that inappropriate political leadership has on the functioning of municipalities and therefore on service delivery.

scholarly journals State Independent Electoral Commissions and local government elections in Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johnson O. Olaniyi
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Third Republic ◽  
The Political ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
State Apparatus ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Government Level

Many state governments have not been allowing their State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to conduct elections as at when due but rather settle for ‘caretaker committees’. Where elections have been conducted, the party in control of a state apparatus has been known to have cleared the polls. The general objective of this study is to assess the impact of electoral contest at the local government level on the political development of Nigeria. Specific objectives include (1) assessing the role of the political executives of a state in the determination of representation at the local government level in Nigeria; and (2) assessing the activities of SIECs in the management of local government polls. This study adopts comparative cum case study approach to analysing local government polls in Nigeria. This is discussed on a geopolitical basis. Some of the findings of the study include: (1) local government election in Nigeria is not given premium position by many state governments in the political landscape of their state because of the fear of playing into the hands of their political rivals; and (2) SIECs are only independent in name and not in practice. The study recommends, among others, that (1) the country should adopt the arrangement in the aborted Third Republic where the country’s EMB was empowered to conduct all elections at all levels of government and (2) local government elections in Nigeria should key into the electoral process of the country in all ramifications.

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