"Post 1994, walltowall municipalities were introduced and my argument is that we do not have walltowall municipalities in South Africa by special constraints, particularly in the rural municipalities. The municipality effectively has jurisdiction, in some municipalities 10% of the land that makes up that municipality, which then means that the municipality can only serve or help people in that area to a certain extent," he said. Mguni added where he was born, to a certain extent the municipality is not in charge but the traditional leadership is in charge, which is where the negotiated power between the municipality and traditional leadership comes into play. He noted, "This is why I interrogate our institutional arrangements of local government rather than simply lament the collapse of municipalities. Reimagining local government needs to include conversations about decoupling rural and significantly urbanised municipalities as well as the interrogation of the role of traditional leaders in communities."

Ward 72 councillor Daniel Schay said being a transparent leader has contributed to the good relationship he has with his community. "It all boils down to having relationships with officials, repeatedly requesting about an issue in the ward if necessary and following escalation channels. I have a transparent communication policy in terms of maintaining communication. "I begin each weekday morning with a message to my residents, updating them on the issues I have tackled from the past 24 hours, and what I together with my party will continue to do throughout the week regarding water and electricity issues." South African Human Rights Commission commissioner Philile Ntuli reiterated that most people have asked whether the Constitution itself is the problem rather than the implementation of the rights in the Constitution.

"The Constitution itself creates a robust frame, not only democratic but also accountable local government systems and does so by providing basic services. It also obliges the provincial and national governments to establish a legislature to support the local government sphere. By doing so, it recognises that the local government sphere on its own is incapable of addressing some of the deep and systemic problems which are inherited from our colonial and apartheid past." Ntuli added the national and provincial spheres introduced the municipal system's act which brings to the foreground the relationship between the local government sphere and the citizens. Within this relationship, acountability, mutual trust and loyalty are emphasised. The commissioner said the contract between public representatives and citizens is what guides acountability in the framework for how local government should be perceived. There was also often a shyness in citizens to participate in their rights of holding leaders accountable in communities. Political analyst Lukhona Mguni talks about the work required to reimagine local government.

Source: Sandton Chronicle