Enhancing Public Participation through Ward Councillors and Committees in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality

Description

Pagege: 348-355

M. Ragolane and T.L. Malatji (Department of Public Administration, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa)

Ward committees and councillors are important to the functionality of committees in the policy-making processes. Local government municipalities depend on councillors and committees to facilitate community engagements and participation to ensure that communities receive the necessary services. This study aims to understand the role of ward committees and councillors in facilitating public participation and efficient service delivery to citizens. This study argues that the lack of capacity building of ward committees and councillors has led to the ineffectiveness and lack of participatory democracy in local government municipalities making service delivery unsatisfactory and unfavourable. The methodology used in this study is qualitative and data is obtained through interviews and other secondary sources and materials. The study was limited to the Greater Tzaneen Municipality representatives in the public participation portfolios. The study findings reveal that municipalities do not have enough capacity to build ward councillors and committees, leading to a lack of engagement from communities and municipalities. It is recommended that public participation should be the first mandate of ward committees and councillors through capacity building and policy frameworks that ensure that they understand their roles and functions for effective service delivery.