ISS Seminar, Cape Town: Challenges to Public Participation in South Africa`s Democratic Parliament

Date: 2011-03-29

Venue: , ISS Cape Town Office , 2nd Floor, Armoury Building , Buchanan Square , 160 Sir Lowry Road , Woodstock

RSVP:
Ms Hopolang Selebalo
Tel: (021) 461 7211
Fax: (021) 461 7213
[email protected]

With the advent of the post-apartheid democratic Parliament of South Africa, citizens have seen a shift from a non-inclusive institution to one that has public participation as an integral part of its mandate. Public engagement is imperative in facilitating Parliament’s role of oversight within the Executive– it allows citizens to put to practise their Constitutional right in holding government departments and parastatals accountable for their actions. Specific initiatives ensure that Parliament facilitates public involvement in all its functions in order to best represent the people of South Africa. Despite these efforts, it appears that the institution is faced with numerous challenges in applying the notion of public participation.

Increasingly public participation in South Africa is being viewed as a dialogue between the Executive and the people. However, a modern constitutional democracy should rather promote participatory governance between the electorate and their representatives in Parliament, provincial legislatures as well as local councils.

The discussion will focus on some of the challenges faced by civil society organisations and the public in engaging with Parliament, despite Parliament’s efforts to facilitate public participation.  The seminar seeks to create a platform for dialogue between civil society and Parliament, in order to confront these issues and construct a way forward.

Speakers:

• Hon. MJ Mahlangu, Chairperson, National Council of Provinces (Parliament)
• Ms. Charlene Houston, Chairperson, Participation Junction
• Mr. Dmitri Holtzman, Parliamentary Liaison Office, Equal Education

Please note that discussions will occur under ISS Rules: Participants are free to use the information presented, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed without his/her express permission.