We should look to the Philippines, where barangays, or neighbourhood governments, help to empower communities
Many of South Africa’s troubles reflect a widening gap between state and society. On the one hand, the government is struggling to cope with multiplying social crises — gender-based violence, youth unemployment, gangsterism, taxi conflict, xenophobic attacks and land occupations. On the other, citizens are increasingly disillusioned and distrustful of government institutions and services as a result of poor management, corruption, patronage politics and nepotism.
An energised system of community-level governance could help to improve conditions in poorer settlements in South Africa. Some townships and informal neighbourhoods have street committees or other informal governance arrangements, but they lack the extent of state support, legal safeguards and legitimacy of the barangays. Better-organised communities with access to decision-makers and resources could release people’s agency and help them to cope with adversity.
Compulsory reporting of plans and activities to municipal authorities promotes upward accountability. Barangays give ordinary citizens a formal stake in decision-making and devolve power and resources from the centre to local neighbourhoods. Local democracy helps to harness the resourcefulness of residents and means that communities are better equipped to resist threats, such as eviction and resettlement.
Refuse collection and recycling schemes are widespread, with the result that most streets and alleyways are free of litter. Every neighbourhood also seems to have some kind of basketball court, reflecting the national pastime. The validation of these communities by the standing of the barangays appears to instil a sense of dignity and belonging among local residents.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SA post office halts mail to and from South East Asia over coronavirus fearsSapo apologised for the inconvenience and said it will resume services once suitable arrangements have been made with different airlines. However, mail to Hong Kong is not affected.
Read more »
Post Office suspends mail to and from coronavirus-infected Far East countriesThe rapidly spreading and disruptive Covid-19 has now forced the SA Post Office to suspend its outgoing and incoming mail to countries of the far east until further notice. coronavirus
Read more »
Preparing graduates for the workplace - The Mail & GuardianImbuing students with entrepreneurial thinking can also provide value to the larger economy
Read more »
Volunteers fill municipal-sized hole - The Mail & GuardianIn Lekwa municipality, traffic lights don’t work. Raw sewage flows from the treatment plant into the Vaal River. Children die because there are no firetrucks. And political infighting is hindering change. Athandiwe Saba continues her reporting with a story about the people of Standerton who have taken it on themselves to fix things
Read more »
GDP is stuck in the doldrums - The Mail & GuardianThe latest economic figures and the effect of the coronavirus on the global economy are bad news for South Africa’s already tepid domestic growth outlook.
Read more »
Rare Gabon burial cave reveals clues to African history - The Mail & GuardianThere are 30 skeletons in the Iroungou cave, and carbon dating has shown they are from the 14th century. It is only the second cave burial site to be unearthed on the continent.
Read more »