Posts

Be an active citizen – play your part in advancing effective local governance

Image: Edward Middleton, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license Source: CoGTA The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) reiterates the call for active citizen participation in local government. To have a meaningful impact on how your municipality is run, you need to understand the processes involved. This guide explains Read more >

Marikana caught in politicised food parcels storm

Image: Sabeehah Motala By Valencia Talane A community in Marikana, Rustenburg, in the North West is learning the hard way the cost of being poor and not politically connected during the Covid-19 lockdown. They are caught up in a political storm that is costing them the most urgent need, food. And a ward councillor in Read more >

Government’s not so reliable food-delivery service

By Kwazi DlaminiFirst published in City Press South Africans with the means to do so have been using the tap of a finger for meals to be delivered to their homes, since the country went into Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown level 4 earlier this month. Between technical glitches that hampered said deliveries and complaints over the Read more >

Government to tackle food parcel corruption

By Thato Mahlangu Government promises to deal “harshly” with people who may be suspected of stealing food parcels meant for struggling people during the lockdown. Media and social media reports have suggested that in some parts of the country people, including government officials – councillors in particular – have been accused of stealing food parcels. ANC Read more >

Still waiting for promised RDP houses, nine years later

By Thembela Ntongana First published on GroundUp Nine years ago, families moved from Ezinkomeni to nearby Unit P in Mdantsane, East London’s largest township. They did so on the understanding that RDP houses would be ready for them in six months. Today, they are still living in container homes. Members of the 27 families say Read more >

We must hold our municipal councillors accountable

In the just-concluded local municipal elections we cast two votes – one for a party and one for an individual. Voters in areas which form part of a district council received a third ballot paper for the district council election. Those votes will result in the election of councillors, who are tasked with doing their utmost Read more >

The importance of voting in municipal elections

Local government elections will take place on 3 August this year. This is the chance for citizens to vote for the people who they believe will best look after their service delivery interests such as water and electricity; the maintenance of parks, roads and other public spaces; and the implementation of housing projects drawn up Read more >

Local government elections 2016 – FAQ

The final registration weekend for the upcoming municipal elections takes place over the weekend of 9 and 10 April. If you’re a South African citizen remember that your vote is not only important when it comes to national elections – it’s at municipal level where government and citizens meet directly, and in a way this Read more >