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The state of Local Governance in South Africa

Explore the state of local governance in South Africa through the Local Governance Barometer, highlighting key issues and lessons for governments and civil society. Lessons include the need for effective communication, adherence to laws, accountability, enhanced citizen participation, and ensuring equity in services. Gain insights into improving governance at the local level.

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The state of Local Governance in South Africa

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  1. The state of Local Governance in South Africa Lessons from the Local Governance Barometer

  2. Local Governance Barometer • Develop by Impact Alliance Members • Pact • Idasa • SNV • "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).

  3. Assessing Local Governance • “if governance matters, measuring governance matters too” • Complex • Multi-dimensional (economic, political, socio-cultural) processes • All levels of public & private interventions • Subjective (perception)

  4. LGB Applications • Countries • Botswana (Gaborone and Central District) • South Africa (15 local authorities) • Malawi (2 districts) • Tanzania (1 district) • Lesotho ( 2 districts) • Respondents • Councillors, officials, ordinary citizens

  5. High Level Indicators/Criteria • The principal quality criteria of governance are 1- Public power effectiveness and efficiency2- Rule of law3- Accountability4- Participation5- And equity

  6. LGB Main criteria • Effectiveness/Efficiency • The way in which planned activities are realised and the expected results are achieved in a cost-effective ways • Rule of Law • The application, compliance and enforcement of legislationand policies regulating local government • Accountability • The extent to which political leaders are seen to be acting responsibly and responsively, and how the information is made available • Participation • Community particpation in development, implementation, and M+E of municipal governance processes • Equity • The extent of equal access and inclusiveness to municipal services among citizens

  7. South Africa Outputs

  8. IssuesEffectiveness • Councils are failing to communicate their vision, plans, and challenges for development • Council committees are not functioning • Council information is communicated in highly technical ways, thus alienating ordinary citizens • Lack of mechanisms to measure and improve customer satisfaction • Government structures are not communicating to each other on how best to tackle matters of under development

  9. IssuesRule of Law • Councillors do not adhere to their own code of conduct • Admin staff are entangled in party-politics • Lack of anti-corruption strategies • Civil society’s lack of understanding of local government legislation and operations

  10. IssuesAccountability • Poor information flow from councils to citizens • CSOs inability to make use of existing mechanisms to hold councils accountable (lack of skills on advocacy and lobbying) • Lack of mechanisms to review council decisions or to lodge complaints • Statutory structures for participation are ineffective, yet CSO are unable to create alternative structures

  11. IssuesParticipation and civic engagement • Difference on perception btwn councillors (60) and citizens (40) • Participation is according to law vs the need to engage and reach consensus • Government listens to citizens but does not respond accordingly (Inability of citizens to influence decision making) • Council meetings highly technical and citizens withdrawal from such ‘incomprehensible’ processes and discussions

  12. IssuesEquity • Under-representation of women in structures of government (councils and administration) • Lack of government policies to adress special needs of the disabled, youth, women, and the elderly • Municipalities’ inability to localise central government’s policies on HIV/Aids

  13. LessonsGovernments • Municipalities struggle to “juggle” demands and supply pressures • Citizens continually show consumerist behaviour patterns (demanding more and better quality services but are less willing or able to participate in the affairs of the state) • Party political interests over-ride the interests of communities • Local authorities have to perform functions that are poorly funded by national government

  14. Lesson (cont..) • A need to build local government institutions that are: • Catalytic (steer rather than row – see that services are provided rather than always delivering them directly • Community-empowering (encourage local groups to solve their own problems) • Competitive rather than monopolistic –by deregulating and privatising services that could be carried out by the private sector • Customer driven

  15. LessonsCivil Society • A need to create a CS that: • Knows and understand local government legislation and processes • Has the ability to conduct proper budget analysis • Is itself transparent and accountable and actively involves citizens • Has skills of lobbying and advocacy • Engages in civic education to enhance citizen’s understanding of their rights and duties

  16. End Siyabonga Memela IDASA www.idasa.org.za smemela@idasa.org.za

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