Browsing by Author "Mjacu, Sizwe"

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    An evaluation of the practice of public accountability in the Ndlambe Municipality
    (University of Fort Hare, 2009) Mjacu, Sizwe
    Democracy is a people driven process in which public accountability plays a crucial role in ensuring good governance. In democratic countries, good governance is a product of the democratic process. During the apartheid regime public office bearers were hardly called to account to the public for their actions and inactions and people did not have any way to freely hold public officials and political office-bearers accountable. The introduction of a democratic dispensation in South Africa in April 1994 drew the idea of public accountability in which the electorates can hold public officials and political office-bearers accountable into the spotlight. For all spheres of government public participation has been identified as an important factor. This is obviously more critical at a local level where municipalities have a daunting task of providing services to the communities. It facilitates closer interaction between citizens and elected representatives. Being close to the people, local government knows better the needs of the local area, and also how to engage the local people in economic activities. Various pieces of legislation require municipalities to establish methods and mechanisms to ensure public accountability and citizen participation in public affairs. Ward committees are but one mechanism to promote public accountability. In these structures, local municipalities should ensure that various sector groups within its jurisdiction are represented. Moreover, a municipality needs to communicate with the public it is designed to serve. This form of communication is mainly to some or other legal requirements, or to invite comments and objections on specific proposals. This helps to promote public accountability and it also strengthens the relationship between public officials, political office-bearers and the members of the community. All these mechanisms are meant to enhance service delivery.