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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The imperative of participation in South African local government |
Authors: | Govender, Jayanathan Reddy, P.S. |
Year: | 2011 |
Periodical: | Africanus (ISSN 0304-615X) |
Volume: | 41 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 60-77 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | local government political participation |
Abstract: | After a transitional and consolidation phase spanning fifteen years, South Africa has embraced participative forms of democracy at the local level. There is significant evidence that introducing participatory democracy was an appropriate step in the development of the country's local government. This article discusses current debates on the issue, and emerging evidence of the successes and dilemmas encountered in the practice of participatory governance. It first reviews the policy and legislative framework institutionalizing participation. Secondly, it suggests that international experience has demonstrated that participation can provide solutions to developmental problems. Thirdly, it describes the rationale of participatory local government. Focusing on South Africa, the article then discusses the prospects for embedding democratic governance, paying attention to critical civil society issues, building social capital, the emerging system of administrative justice, and the socio-ethical aspects of participation. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [ASC Leiden abstract] |