Whether it is to discuss the state of the community park, an infrastructure upgrade project or simply to get to know your neighbours – there are a multitude of reasons you should attend your next ward councillor’s public meeting.
It might be a bit awkward at first, especially if you have never been to one before.
But soon enough, you will realise how important these meetings can become, especially if it directly influences you and your family’s life in the community.
Your voice
The City of Johannesburg’s speaker, Vasco Da Gama said public participation in local government is very critical, allowing communities to recognise their own worth in making a difference in their communities.
Your neighbour’s voice
It is at public meetings where you learn what bothers your neighbours and how that could possibly affect you. Maybe someone highlights an issue you have been dealing with; adding strength in numbers to when it comes to dealing with a certain problem.
Service delivery and future plans
Here you can discuss, or hear about plans for service delivery issues and plans for future development in your neighbourhood. You are kept up-to-date with what the municipality is doing, or not doing, in your area.
Initiatives
Have you ever thought of an amazing idea to uplift the community is some way – maybe a weekly clean-up or regular visits to the old age home? A public meeting provides another platform to voice this. Although residents’ associations or charities in your area would be a better platform to raise this, a public meeting could give you a starting point.
Remember that these public meetings often have a set subject that will be discussed, so bringing up issues that are not related to that, could be discussed beforehand or afterwards.
If you plan to say something at a meeting, preparing a written submission means your comment will be easily available to the ward councillor who could find it easier to get back to you and even help you with the issue.
Keep an eye on your local newspaper or distributed flyers for a notice about an upcoming ward councillor’s public meeting.
