GUIDE ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

GUIDE ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE

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Table of Contents

FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4 2. Public Participation Guide........................................................................................................ 5 3. The Need for the Guide ............................................................................................................ 6 4. Limitation of the Guide ............................................................................................................ 7 5. What is Public Participation ..................................................................................................... 7

5.1 Terms used to explain public participation........................................................................ 7 5.2 Definition of Public Participation ...................................................................................... 8 5.3 Defining the Public .......................................................................................................... 10 6. The Context of Public Participation in South Africa ............................................................. 12 7. Legal Framework ................................................................................................................... 12

7.1.1 Constitution .............................................................................................................. 13 7.2.1 The White Paper on Transforming Public Service Delivery (Batho Pele White Paper) of 1997 ........................................................................................................................ 13 8. Institutionalizing and Planning Public Participation .............................................................. 15 8.2 What should departments do to institutionalize public participation .............................. 15 8.3 Planning for Public Participation..................................................................................... 18 8.4 Understanding Stakeholders ............................................................................................ 19 8.4.2. Stakeholder Analysis ................................................................................................ 20 8.4.3. General benefits of Public Participation are the following; ..................................... 20 8.5 Resources required for a successful public participation ................................................ 22 9. Obstacles that can impede meaningful public participation................................................... 24 9.1 Internal Obstacles ............................................................................................................ 24 9.2 External Obstacles ........................................................................................................... 24 10. Methods of public participation .......................................................................................... 25 10.4.1 Imbizo.......................................................................................................................... 25 10.4.2 Public Hearings ........................................................................................................... 26 10.4.3 Ward Committees and Community Development Workers........................................ 27 10.4.4 African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)................................................................. 27 10.4.5 Open Government Partnership (OGP) ........................................................................ 28 11. Conclusion........................................................................................................................... 29 12. Annexures............................................................................................................................ 30 ANNEXURE 1: TEMPLATE FOR DEVELOPING GUIDELINES ....................................... 31

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FOREWORD

In 2008 the Public Service Commission (PSC) published a research report entitled "Report on the Assessment of Public Participation Practices in the Public Service". In the report, the PSC categorically urge government departments to institutionalize the practice of public participation by, inter alia, developing their own policies, guidelines and structures such as dedicated public participation units to drive public participation. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has subsequently developed the guide on public participation for the public service. The department will use the same as a starting point for promoting and institutionalizing the application of public participation in policy formulation, implementation and service delivery improvement. It is also intended to help departments understand the public policy context within which they operate, identify the need and develop the desire for citizen and community engagement, and then to design and implement appropriate policies and public participation guidelines of their own. The DPSA recognises the great diversity of departmental mandates, contexts, and objectives in policy formulation and implementation of programmes. As a result, the guide offers no rigid prescriptions or readymade solutions. Rather, it seeks to clarify the key issues and decisions faced by government officials when designing and implementing measures to ensure access to information, opportunities for consultation and public participation in policy-making and service delivery. Finally, we encourage departments to utilize the template recommended by the PSC when designing their specific guidelines. This is in the interest of promoting a common approach on public participation across the public service, while acknowledging the diversity that might necessitate some customization of the template to suit unique circumstances in departments. The template is included as an annexure to this guide, However it can be obtained directly from the website of the PSC.

Mr. Mashwale Diphofa Director- General: DPSA

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1. Introduction

1.1 Good governance is among others, about creating transparency, accountability and building strong relations between government and its citizens. Governments throughout the world are striving towards building strong relations and partnerships with citizens, because it is through these partnerships that developmental challenges and good governance could be addressed. Citizens' participation is a central element of good governance.

1.2 The South African Government has committed itself to the creation of a better life for all its citizens. The basis of the Constitution (1996), and other policies such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (1994), and the White Paper on the Transformation of the Public Service (1997), is the development of the potential of each individual citizen for self reliance and sustainability as a priority. Building trust between government and citizens is paramount, and these policies advocate for citizens to be afforded the opportunity to play an active role in decision making and any other policy making process and by so doing, building the so desired trust and strong relationship between government and citizens.

1.3 The National Planning Commission (NPC) has done an analysis of problems that are still facing the Country since obtaining a successful transition into democracy, and all these challenges are detailed in the Diagnostic Report they have developed. In response to the challenges, the National Development Plan has been adopted to achieve among others, a "mobilized, active and responsive citizenry". Government is expected to play a facilitative role to strike a balance in issues of nation building and social cohesion.

1.4 Public participation is important to the principles of democratic government. The 2010-2014 Medium Term Strategic Framework identifies the renewal of citizens' faith in the democratic system as crucial". The renewal of systems, values and ethos is seen as critical fundamentals required for driving projects identified in the National Development Plan. Government's focus is generally on realizing the following priorities which are essential for positively changing citizens' living standards through poverty eradication, rural development, and improvement of health services, education and crime prevention.

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The 2010 State of the Nation Address re-emphasized Government's commitment to building a state that will be responsive to the people's needs, a caring public service which will promote the acceleration of service delivery in order to address the needs of the people, in line with the Batho Pele/People First Policy1.

1.5 The Reconstruction and Development Programme supports and endorses participatory democracy, and it urges government departments to play a role and take responsibility to ensure that citizens are empowered, and that developmental programmes are people driven. Citizens must also play a greater and active role in economic development, to deal with the problems of deprivation and eradication of the phenomenon of second economy, characterized by persisting poverty and an increasing unemployment which affect the majority of the previously disadvantaged populations.

1.6 Government has introduced various initiatives in an effort to involve citizens in participatory democracy. To reach out to communities, government has established mechanisms such as the African Peer Review Mechanism, Open Government Partnership, Community Development Workers, Imbizo and Ward Committees as platforms for engagement. They are mostly designed to facilitate and enhance public participation at local level, as well as assist communities to deal with their own development.

2. Public Participation Guide

2.1 The purpose of this guide is to capacitate government institutions to effectively and efficiently carry out their public participation activities in communities. Government institutions are duty bound by the laws of the country to engage communities on policies, programmes, projects and any decisions which might affect such communities either positively or negatively. Public participation is an essential tool for soliciting the views of communities on all development initiatives in a manner that would minimize or avoid unnecessary conflict.

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