The Republic of South Africa is a Constitutional democracy founded on the principle of participatory governance. Various statutes and policy frameworks, enable and legitimize the following practices furthering the fulfillment and attainment of democratic governance and participatory democracy:
- Being heard, represented and consulted with
- Participating in decision-making processes
- Presenting oral and written evidence
- Petitioning decision-makers
- Advocating to the Government, National and Provincial Legislatures, as well as Municipal Councils and all of their sub-structures
The South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996)
The South African Constitution enshrines public participation and consultation in decision-making processes which affect the interests of society. Section 16 of the Constitution specifically enshrines the rights to freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information.
Public Administration Management Act (2014)
The Act promotes the basic values and principles governing public administration. It recognises that the Constitution provides that the Republic is one, sovereign, democratic state and that the government is constituted as national, provincial and local spheres of government which are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated
To this end, the Act promotes and seeks to realise the following objectives, values and principles in public administration:
- High standards of professional ethics;
- Respond to peoples needs;
- Promote public participation in policy-making;
- Be accountable to the public; and
- Foster transparency by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information
The ‘Batho Pele’ (People First) Principles
These principles emphasis the following imperatives in the delivery and administration of public service in South Africa:
- Consultation
- Openness and Transparency
- Redress
The practice of ethical and transparent government and public affairs across and within all three spheres of government and public administration in the Republic South Africa, deepens participatory democracy and therefore enhances democratic governance by:
- Improving the quality and diversity of information and evidence at the disposal of decision-makers for informed public policy, legislative, regulatory, administrative, service delivery and political outcomes; and
- Enabling and supporting active citizenship, including corporate, institutional and organisation citizenship and activism in South Africa’s body-politic.