THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY

Abstract

The ANC-led liberation struggle was not only intended to remove white leaders from state power and replace them with black leaders. Rather, in the post-struggle dispensation, it was hoped that a multicultural South Africa would be born and grow healthily. One element of this envisioned postapartheid dispensation was good local governments which would have in place good city councils guiding democratic communities. These urban communities, under the auspices of local government, would create room for ordinary people to participate fully and actively in the day to day running of their urban communities. Ward councils would be part of the structure for local government and popular participation. Ultimately, urban communities would be so empowered as to self-legislate and self-determine-- or simply, to self-govern. This was a hope for popular self-government. But, ten or so years after the first democratic elections, this remains a dream yet to come true. Although the ANC has made a remarkable shift from a liberation movement to a ruling party, urban communities are yet to fully and actively participate in policy- and decision-making affecting their own communities. Two factors come readily to mind: a stultifying bureaucracy at city council and local government level and a weak and unco-ordinated civil society. Our study focuses on the first factor. Local government has become more and more bureaucratised, making it increasingly difficult for popular participation in policy- and decision-making. It has made the terrain much more difficult. Ordinary people do not have their voices heard. Government does not understand the circumstances of the people. Its experts theorise, in a vacuum, poverty reduction strategies. It is not clear whether the poor ask the right questions on how to improve their lives. Mechanisms are lacking to hold the government accountable in accordance with the aims, objectives, and values of the Constitution