Twenty-eight years for the reason that first democratic Parliament sat in Cape Town, we proceed to have a Parliament that is activist, responsive and decided to make a distinction within the lives of our individuals.
As our democracy has matured, there are a selection of sides of our political life that we frequently take without any consideration. One of those is the precept of participatory democracy, the place each South African is in a position to meaningfully take part within the choices that have an effect on their lives.
An important instance of this precept in apply is the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) annual programme of ‘Taking Parliament to the People’, which was held final week within the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
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During the week, NCOP members held public hearings on points affecting communities within the district, starting from crime and security to housing to water to financial improvement. The programme ended final Friday with a proper plenary sitting of the NCOP opened by the President and attended by tons of of group members.
Last week’s programme confirmed how efficient the NCOP is in coordinating between the three spheres of presidency.
Representatives of nationwide, provincial and native authorities have been concerned in the neighborhood interactions and have been in a position to help with lots of the points raised.
In this fashion, Parliament is contributing to the constructing of participatory democracy. Not solely are residents in a position to vote each 5 years for his or her representatives. They are additionally in a position to take part within the choices that have an effect on their lives.
In South Africa in the present day, no legislation may be handed or amended, no improvement can proceed, and no coverage can obtain consensus with out the enter and participation of the South African individuals.
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This is premised on the understanding that those that are affected by a call have the best to be concerned within the decision-making. Community members are in a position to interact straight with authorities officers and different stakeholders and problem them on choices which will adversely affect them.
Public participation in our democracy is not achieved in a superficial method.
This is evident not solely within the substance of the legal guidelines which are handed, but in addition within the method that legal guidelines are thought of and debated.
Before any legislation is handed, parliamentary committees invite submissions from the general public and maintain hearings – usually in communities – to collect individuals’s views on the proposed laws.
In latest occasions, we’ve seen communities asserting their rights in varied methods. The environmental affect evaluation course of, for instance, requires significant session with a spread of and affected events earlier than an authorisation for a improvement is granted. This provision has supported grassroots citizen activism in search of to guard their communities and the atmosphere towards dangerous practices.
This yr I’ve led 5 Presidential Izimbizo, in North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Northern Cape. Through these izimbizo, residents have a chance to interact straight with mayors, Premiers, MECs, Ministers and the President.
Accountability
These engagements are interactive and at occasions strong. They are an vital software of accountability as a result of the respective officers are anticipated to report again straight and in public to the individuals on what they’re doing to repair their challenges.
As we work to implement the District Development Model throughout the nation, platforms for public participation assist to make residents companions in their very own improvement.
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We are attempting to maneuver away from ‘parachuted’ improvement, the place tasks are deliberate in workplaces tons of of kilometres away from communities and don’t take note of the actual wants of these communities. There is a criticism in some quarters that public participation in decision-making is cumbersome, protracted and holds again improvement.
To the opposite. We come from a previous the place residents have been fully disempowered by a repressive order that had no regard for the affect of its legal guidelines on these most affected by it. We come from a previous the place corporations might construct factories and industries with no regard to whether or not they would harm individuals’s well being, endanger their lives or pollute their atmosphere.
We ought to be proud that in South Africa in the present day, each citizen has a voice and has methods to carry decision-makers to account, be they lawmakers, companies or the President.
Public participation permits the state to make higher choices. It builds belief between the federal government, communities and stakeholders. It empowers residents with the data that their voices are heard.
Public participation in decision-making is democracy itself.
