Public participation in policy-making and implementation with specific reference to the Port Elizabeth municipality

Abstract

Public participation in policy-making and implementation is an integral part of public administration and an essential ingredient of community development and democracy. This study describes, analyses and evaluates the role played by public participation in policy-making and implementation in South Africa, with specific reference to the Port Elizabeth Municipality. It investigates how the process of public participation in policy-making and implementation can be strengthened and made more fluid. The levels of knowledge regarding legislation, institutions and processes of public interaction with the legislative and policy-making and implementation institutions, and the intention to participate in these processes, are regarded as important. Among others, the concept participation and the impact of the process of public participation as well as the extent of awareness of the South African public with regard to its democratic rights ar:id freedom and newly acquired opportunities of interaction in policy-making and implementation are examined. The issues of concern in which the South African public would like to participate are also examined. In order to make meaningful decisions about public needs and demands, policy makers and implementers should obtain current information about such needs and demands. Public participation is an appropriate mechanism for conveying such information and should therefore be encouraged and preserved. It appears that the constitutional and legislative framework is an appropriate instrument for this purpose. However, in order to facilitate the development of the culture of participation, other prerequisites of public participation should not be forgotten. A lack of information about the process of public participation and a dearth of literature on the subject of public participation are among the challenges facing South Africa. The investigation indicates that there is lack of knowledge about institutions and legislation, as well as illiteracy and inadequate participation skills. Although Constitutional and statutory provisions reflect good intentions about public participation, with low levels of knowledge about such provisions and inadequate interaction between public participation and policy-making and implementation, a fluid process of participation which could deepen, broaden and sustain democracy would remain a utopian ideal. However, various mechanisms, by which this scenario could be addressed, could be devised and implemented.