Browsing by Author "Baatjies, Reuben"

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    DPLG's policy review process: Local government under the spotlight
    (Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, 2007) de Visser, Jaap; Christmas, Annette; Baatjies, Reuben
    On 31 July 2007, the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) initiated a policy review process of provincial and local government. It will ultimately result in a first White Paper on Provinces and a discussion document on local government. The process will be a national debate, comprising a public participation process, research and a review of experience. The Department has started the process by publishing 65 “Questions for public engagement”. Comments on these questions and on any other relevant topic can be submitted to DPLG until 31 October 2007.
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    Facilitating public participation: A niche role for the speaker?
    (Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, 2007) Baatjies, Reuben; de Visser, Jaap
    Considerable attention has been drawn to local government’s ability to facilitate public participation and the role and effective administration of ward committees. Undoubtedly the most important aspect of the local government review is the need to improve the quality of local democracy, the degree of municipal responsiveness and accountability. The office of the speaker has increasingly come under the spotlight since its inception in local government in 2000. Their role has often been ill-defined. At times, overlapping roles with the (executive) mayor have caused political tension and misunderstanding. The emergence of the political office of a ‘chief whip’ has added another dimension to the definition of the role of the speaker. Some argue that there are now three seats of political power in each municipality.