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Dear IAP2 SA Members & Potential Members

A toast to Southern Africa’s future heritage! Message from the Chair: Toni Pietersen, Southern Africa Affiliate of IAP2

It is with pride that I toast the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries’ future heritage! The 2010

Board of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) unanimously approved the Southern Africa

Affiliate Application on Wednesday 15 December 2010! Desley Renton, President of IAP2

applauded the effort that went into an excellent application and said “Southern Africa, you

are the new IAP2!” With that said, in line with IAP2’s tradition, we sang South Africa’s

national anthem and sealed the new Affiliate’s existence.

“It is an honour to finally be part of a global community of public participation specialists,

with whom we can grow!”

I believe that Southern Africa has much to offer the international pool of intelligence. There

will be times when we take the lead and others where we will join efforts to initiate new

thinking to excel! Congratulations Southern Africa!

On behalf of the Board of the IAP2 SA Affiliate, I would like to wish you and your family a blessed Festive Season anda prosperous 2011! And if you are travelling, please be safe! May we join hands in our efforts to realize IAP2 SA’s vision

to ensure that public participation is perceived as a value-adding and professional practice in Southern Africa!

2010 at a glance!

Collen Ramagwede presents the

Governance Working Group’s Terms

of Reference at the first event in

May 2010

Participants register for the course on

Emotion, Outrage &Public

Participation, hosted by IAP2 SA in

November 2010

John Godec, one of IAP2’s best international

trainers presents the course on Emotion,

Outrage & Public Participation, developed by

IAP2 and Dr Peter M Sandman

Participants enjoy some jokes while photos are being taken withvarious cameras!Participants discuss the first assignment on how to deal with

an outraged public.

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At the beginning and end of a successful launching event!

Public participation on the brink of a promising future!“Tonight we stand on the brink of a historical moment for the public participation industry in Southern Africa!” said Toni

Pietersen, Chairperson of the Board of the Southern African Affiliate of the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2

SA), in her opening address at a dinner event on Tuesday 2 November 2010 attended by public participation specialists from as

far afield as Ghana and Botswana. The event marked the official launch of the establishment of the Southern African Affiliate of 

IAP2, “something we’ve all been waiting for for many years” a delighted Toni quipped.

Earlier this year, Moira Deslandes, Executive Director of IAP2 contacted Toni to confirm the Board’s approval to proceed settingup an Affiliate body in Southern Africa. This was met with great enthusiasm by the Southern African public participation

community and several meetings ensued. As a result, an Interim Committee was elected and a number of working groups were

established to assist with the work involved in creating an Affiliate. The working groups comprise events, governance,

membership, research and training, and communications and marketing, all of which had an approved Terms of Reference.

The hard work during 2010 culminated in a two-day training event on Emotion, Outrage and Public Participation hosted by IAP2

SA and presented by well-known international trainer John Godec from the USA. The training course was well attended by a

group of people representing different sectors of society, e.g. Mpumalanga Legislature, Department of Water Affairs, DRA

Mining, Exxaro, Engineering Consultants, and Public Participation Consultants. Says Elna de Beer after two intensive days on how

to deal with public outrage: “This course was very useful. It gave me new vocabulary and confirmed our approach in dealing with

emotional crowds.” 

Planning for 2011A few IAP2 SA Board members took Moira Deslandes, Executive Director of IAP2, camping at Pilanesberg Nature Reserve in November 2010.

It was a fun-filled weekend where the group was treated to Stephan

Veldman’s exquisite culinary talents! We came to understand why he

was chosen as leader of the events working group! After enjoying brunch

on Saturday with a view of the dam and antics of the hippos, the group

proceeded on a delightful game drive with sitings of lion, rhinos,

elephants and many other four-legged species. Back at the camp, the

group set off for swimming in the almost unbearable heat. Between the

tents, brilliantly lit night sky, companionable people and mug of coffee

the plan for 2011 was born! A plan remains a plan if it stays on paper, and

only when implemented it becomes the way we live and do things.

Therefore, we thought it would be very good to find out what you wantout of IAP2 SA in 2011; what your expectations are and how we can

attempt to meet those. Rather than wanting to be a top-down

organisation, we want participative membership and collective thinking

in the true spirit of public participation. Please click on this link

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GR5VZ3R to complete a 5-minute

survey so that we may assess your needs and how best to achieve

making this organisation work for you!

Have a joyous festive season and a prosperous 2011!

All the best!