Civic Root Advocacy

24/09/2026

Happy Heritage Day! 🇿🇦

07/09/2026

Our Research Officer Hlumelo Xaba writes in the Daily Maverick that delays in finalising the Coalition Bill reflect a troubling lack of urgency in addressing instability in local government.

With the elections approaching, municipalities risk entering another electoral cycle without a coherent framework governing coalitions. Political instability is never confined to council chambers—it disrupts administration, delays services and ultimately affects communities.

Read the full article:

The delays around the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill expose government negligence towards local government stability, and raise the threat of coalition-driven chaos extending beyond the November …

28/08/2026

Yesterday at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, we brought together some of our Civic Champions from across five municipalities, alongside key stakeholders, for a reflective Monitoring and Evaluation session on the Local Democracy Accountability Initiative.

Beyond the numbers and activities, the real measure of this work is whether citizens feel better equipped to participate, ask difficult questions and hold public institutions accountable. The session gave us an opportunity to listen, learn from their experiences and reflect on the impact of the work so far.

Democracy becomes stronger when citizens are not merely consulted, but informed, organised and empowered to participate meaningfully.

24/08/2026

IN THE NEWS | North West Democracy in Crisis

Nearly 4 in 10 residents surveyed (38%) say they have never engaged with their ward councillor since the 2021 Local Government Elections.

Our latest Citizen Well-being Survey points to a troubling gap between citizens and the representatives elected to serve them.

At Civic Root Advocacy, we believe democracy cannot begin and end at the ballot box. Citizens must be able to see, access and engage their representatives throughout the electoral cycle

A new civic survey has exposed a significant accountability gap between communities and local government in the North West, with 38% of residents saying they

24/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

24 AUGUST 2026

38% REPORT NO CONTACT WITH WARD COUNCILLORS AS CRA SURVEY EXPOSES NORTH WEST ACCOUNTABILITY GAP

Civic Root Advocacy’s (CRA) Citizen Well-being Survey has revealed a concerning disconnect between communities and local government in the North West Province, raising serious questions about councillor accessibility, public participation and the delivery of basic services.

The survey was conducted as part of CRA’s ongoing Local Democracy Accountability (LDA) Initiative during ward-level community engagements across three districts in the province. It examined the frequency of engagement between residents and ward councillors, community knowledge of ward committees, access to basic services and electoral participation.

The findings reveal a significant accountability gap. Only 12% of participants reported frequent engagement with their ward councillors over the past five years, while 38% said they had never engaged with their ward councillor since the 2021 Local Government Elections.

Access to basic services also emerged as a major concern, with 41% of participants reporting inadequate access to essential services and infrastructure, including water, electricity, refuse removal, healthcare and proper roads.

These findings point to more than a service-delivery problem. They highlight a weakening relationship between citizens and the local democratic institutions intended to represent them. When residents have limited access to both essential services and their elected representatives, public confidence in local government is placed under increasing strain.

Local democracy cannot begin and end at the ballot box. Ward councillors must remain visible, accessible and accountable to communities throughout their term of office. Municipalities must similarly ensure that ward committees and other public participation mechanisms function as meaningful channels through which residents can influence decisions affecting their communities.

As South Africa moves towards another local government election cycle, communities should not only become visible to political parties when votes are required. Public representatives must be present and accountable between elections, not only during election campaigns.

Through the Local Democracy Accountability Initiative, Civic Root Advocacy will continue strengthening civic participation and citizen-led accountability while using the findings of the Citizen Well-being Survey to engage municipalities, public representatives and other relevant institutions in the North West. - End

Issued by:

Siyabulela Jentile,
Executive Director - Civic Root Advocacy

17/08/2026

The IEC is currently accepting applications for electoral posts for the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Positions include Presiding Officers, Deputy Presiding Officers and other electoral staff.

Closing date: 31 August 2026

How to Apply
Create your IEC e-Recruitment profile first, then apply for available electoral posts.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create Your IEC e-Recruitment Profile
Step 1: Visit the official IEC website and go to About the IEC → Jobs, or use the Electoral Jobs link above.
Step 2: Click “REGISTER PROFILE”.
Step 3: Read and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
Step 4: Enter your details and follow the prompts to complete your profile.
Step 5: Your profile is now created! You can start applying for available electoral jobs.

Beware of job scams. Only use the official IEC website and e-Recruitment system when applying for electoral jobs.

🔗 https://online.elections.org.za/adminconsole/jobs/login

Apply before 31 August 2026 and share this information with others.

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

Congratulations to our Research Officer, Hlumelo Xaba, on being named one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans for 2026 in the Politics & Governance category.

This well-deserved recognition reflects Hlumelo’s commitment to democratic governance, evidence-based research, and active citizenship. Through his work on the Local Democracy Accountability (LDA) Initiative, he continues to contribute to strengthening local democracy and accountable governance.

We are proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement and look forward to Hlumelo’s continued impact in advancing democracy and public leadership.

Congratulations, Hlumelo!

05/08/2026

Yesterday we met with the City of Tshwane Speaker of Council at Tshwane House to introduce the Local Democracy Accountability (LDA) Initiative. Looking forward to working together to strengthen civic participation and local democracy.

30/07/2026

244 Civic Champions. Five municipalities. One shared commitment to stronger local democracy.

Over the past two months, the Local Democracy Accountability (LDA) Initiative has trained and equipped 244 Civic Accountability Champions across Mahikeng, JB Marks, City of Matlosana, Rustenburg, and Madibeng Local Municipalities.

These champions are now taking what they have learned into their communities, helping communities better understand local government, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and promote greater transparency and accountability.

This map represents more than numbers, it reflects a small but growing network of informed citizens committed to strengthening democracy from the ground up.

Thanks to our partners at IEC, SALGA and NW Provincial Legislature.