The state of Local The state of Local Governance in South AfricaGovernance in South Africa

Lessons from the Local Lessons from the Local Governance BarometerGovernance Barometer

Local Governance BarometerLocal Governance Barometer

Develop by Impact Alliance MembersDevelop by Impact Alliance Members PactPact IdasaIdasa SNVSNV

"governance" means: "governance" means: the process of decision-the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)are implemented (or not implemented)..

Assessing Local GovernanceAssessing Local Governance

““if governance matters, measuring governance if governance matters, measuring governance matters too”matters too”

ComplexComplex Multi-dimensional (economic, political, socio-Multi-dimensional (economic, political, socio-

cultural) processescultural) processes All levels of public & private interventionsAll levels of public & private interventions Subjective (perception)Subjective (perception)

LGB ApplicationsLGB Applications

CountriesCountries Botswana (Gaborone and Central District)Botswana (Gaborone and Central District) South Africa (15 local authorities)South Africa (15 local authorities) Malawi (2 districts)Malawi (2 districts) Tanzania (1 district)Tanzania (1 district) Lesotho ( 2 districts)Lesotho ( 2 districts)

RespondentsRespondents Councillors, officials, ordinary citizensCouncillors, officials, ordinary citizens

High Level Indicators/CriteriaHigh Level Indicators/Criteria

The principal quality criteria of governance are The principal quality criteria of governance are 1- Public power effectiveness and efficiency1- Public power effectiveness and efficiency2- Rule of law2- Rule of law3- Accountability3- Accountability4- Participation4- Participation5- And equity5- And equity

LGB Main criteriaLGB Main criteria Effectiveness/EfficiencyEffectiveness/Efficiency

The way in which planned activities are realised and the expected results are The way in which planned activities are realised and the expected results are achieved in a cost-effective waysachieved in a cost-effective ways

Rule of LawRule of Law The application, compliance and enforcement of legislationand policies regulating The application, compliance and enforcement of legislationand policies regulating

local governmentlocal government AccountabilityAccountability

The extent to which political leaders are seen to be acting responsibly and The extent to which political leaders are seen to be acting responsibly and responsively, and how the information is made availableresponsively, and how the information is made available

ParticipationParticipation Community particpation in development, implementation, and M+E of municipal Community particpation in development, implementation, and M+E of municipal

governance processesgovernance processes EquityEquity

The extent of equal access and inclusiveness to municipal services among citizensThe extent of equal access and inclusiveness to municipal services among citizens

South Africa OutputsSouth Africa Outputs

Overall Scores (out Overall Scores (out of 100)of 100)

EffectivenessEffectiveness 5353

Rule of LawRule of Law 4444

AccountabilityAccountability 5151

ParticipationParticipation 5353

EquityEquity 5151

IssuesIssuesEffectivenessEffectiveness

Councils are failing to communicate their vision, Councils are failing to communicate their vision, plans, and challenges for developmentplans, and challenges for development

Council committees are not functioningCouncil committees are not functioning Council information is communicated in highly Council information is communicated in highly

technical ways, thus alienating ordinary citizenstechnical ways, thus alienating ordinary citizens Lack of mechanisms to measure and improve Lack of mechanisms to measure and improve

customer satisfactioncustomer satisfaction Government structures are not communicating to Government structures are not communicating to

each other on how best to tackle matters of under each other on how best to tackle matters of under developmentdevelopment

IssuesIssuesRule of LawRule of Law

Councillors do not adhere to their own code of Councillors do not adhere to their own code of conductconduct

Admin staff are entangled in party-politicsAdmin staff are entangled in party-politics Lack of anti-corruption strategiesLack of anti-corruption strategies Civil society’s lack of understanding of local Civil society’s lack of understanding of local

government legislation and operationsgovernment legislation and operations

IssuesIssuesAccountabilityAccountability

Poor information flow from councils to citizensPoor information flow from councils to citizens CSOs inability to make use of existing mechanisms to CSOs inability to make use of existing mechanisms to

hold councils accountable (lack of skills on advocacy hold councils accountable (lack of skills on advocacy and lobbying)and lobbying)

Lack of mechanisms to review council decisions or to Lack of mechanisms to review council decisions or to lodge complaintslodge complaints

Statutory structures for participation are ineffective, Statutory structures for participation are ineffective, yet CSO are unable to create alternative structuresyet CSO are unable to create alternative structures

IssuesIssuesParticipation and civic engagementParticipation and civic engagement

Difference on perception btwn councillors (60) and Difference on perception btwn councillors (60) and citizens (40)citizens (40)

Participation is according to law vs the need to Participation is according to law vs the need to engage and reach consensusengage and reach consensus

Government listens to citizens but does not respond Government listens to citizens but does not respond accordingly (Inability of citizens to influence decision accordingly (Inability of citizens to influence decision making)making)

Council meetings highly technical and citizens Council meetings highly technical and citizens withdrawal from such ‘incomprehensible’ processes withdrawal from such ‘incomprehensible’ processes and discussionsand discussions

IssuesIssuesEquityEquity

Under-representation of women in structures Under-representation of women in structures of government (councils and administration)of government (councils and administration)

Lack of government policies to adress special Lack of government policies to adress special needs of the disabled, youth, women, and the needs of the disabled, youth, women, and the elderlyelderly

Municipalities’ inability to localise central Municipalities’ inability to localise central government’s policies on HIV/Aidsgovernment’s policies on HIV/Aids

LessonsLessonsGovernmentsGovernments

Municipalities struggle to “juggle” demands and Municipalities struggle to “juggle” demands and supply pressuressupply pressures

Citizens continually show consumerist behaviour Citizens continually show consumerist behaviour patterns (demanding more and better quality services patterns (demanding more and better quality services but are less willing or able to participate in the affairs but are less willing or able to participate in the affairs of the state)of the state)

Party political interests over-ride the interests of Party political interests over-ride the interests of communitiescommunities

Local authorities have to perform functions that are Local authorities have to perform functions that are poorly funded by national governmentpoorly funded by national government

Lesson (cont..)Lesson (cont..)

A need to build local government institutions that are:A need to build local government institutions that are: Catalytic Catalytic (steer rather than row – see that services are (steer rather than row – see that services are

provided rather than always delivering them directlyprovided rather than always delivering them directly Community-empoweringCommunity-empowering (encourage local groups to (encourage local groups to

solve their own problems)solve their own problems) CompetitiveCompetitive rather than monopolistic –by deregulating rather than monopolistic –by deregulating

and privatising services that could be carried out by the and privatising services that could be carried out by the private sectorprivate sector

Customer drivenCustomer driven

LessonsLessonsCivil SocietyCivil Society

A need to create a CS that:A need to create a CS that: Knows and understand local government Knows and understand local government

legislation and processeslegislation and processes Has the ability to conduct proper budget analysisHas the ability to conduct proper budget analysis Is itself transparent and accountable and actively Is itself transparent and accountable and actively

involves citizensinvolves citizens Has skills of lobbying and advocacyHas skills of lobbying and advocacy Engages in civic education to enhance citizen’s Engages in civic education to enhance citizen’s

understanding of their rights and duties understanding of their rights and duties

EndEnd

Siyabonga MemelaSiyabonga MemelaIDASAIDASA

www.idasa.org.zawww.idasa.org.zasmemela@idasa.org.zasmemela@idasa.org.za