Too Dependent to Participate: Ward Committees and Local Democratisation in South Africa

Abstract

Will participatory local government structures help deepen democracy in South Africa? That is the proclaimed purpose of the ward committee system, the centre-piece of post-apartheid local government reform, intended to facilitate deliberative democratic decision making. Drawing on a case study of the Msunduzi municipality, it is argued here that ward committees, as yet barely functional seven years since first being established, have from the outset been caught up in relations of dependency with ward councillors, political parties and the municipality itself, and that these relations threaten to undermine the democratic dividends that the committees are expected to yield.

Key Words:

• Democratisation
• participatory local governance
• invited spaces
• policy implementation

Notes

1 Interview with Colin Gardner, Speaker, Msunduzi Local Council, 11 August 2005.

2 Interview with Sasa Mngadi, Official in the Speaker's Office, in charge of public participation, Msunduzi Local Council, 7 March 2006.

3 See note 1.

4 Wards 13, 19, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 34.

5 Wards 13, 27, 28 and 29.

6 Interview with Fred Wagner, Chairperson: Eastwood Community Forum, 30 October 2005.

7 Interview with K. Blomeyer, Ward 27 ward councillor, 25 August 2005.

8 See note 2.

9 Ibid.

10 Interview with M.H. Steel, DA P.R. councillor, Msunduzi Local Council, 20 February 2006.

11 Interview with Mrs Pillay, ACDP P.R. councillor, Msunduzi Local Council, 20 February 2006.

12 Interview with L.E.M. Nkosi, Ward 12 ward councillor and Chairperson: Edendale Land Owners and Ratepayers' Association, 6 September and 17 October 2005. Interview with Paul Thompson, Acting Secretary: Scottsville Residents' Association, and ward committee member, Ward 36, 3 March 2006.

13 See note 1.

14 In Msunduzi, this takes the form of former mayor Zweli Hloni and his associates being aligned to Mbeki and Provincial Premier Ndebele, with new mayor Zanele Hlatswayo and associates being aligned to Zuma and Provincial MEC for Economic Affairs, Zweli Mkhize.

15 Interview with Sasa Mngadi (note 1), 11 August 2005.

16 Interview with W. Lambert, Ward 25 ward councillor, 18 August 2005.

17 See note 10.

18 See notes 1 and 2.

19 Interview by Nonhlanhla Chanza, UKZN Masters Candidate, with the Ward Councillor for Ward 3, 5 December 2005.

20 See note 1.

21 Interviews with T. Zondi, Ward 19 ward councillor, 19 August 2005, W. Lambert (note 16) and L.E.M. Nkosi (note 12).

22 From Wards 5, 10, 12, 13, 26, 29, 32 and 34.

23 See note 1.

24 Interview with W.V. Adams, Ward 34 ward councillor, 25 August 2005.

25 See note 2.

26 Interview with N. Ahmed, Ward 19 ward councillor, 19 September 2005.