Public Participation In Policy-Making And Implementation

Public participation in policy-making and implementation is an integral part of public administration and an essential ingredient of community development and democracy. This study describes, analyses and evaluates the role played by public participation in policy-making and implementation in South Africa, with specific reference to the Port Elizabeth Municipality. It investigates how the process of public participation in policy-making and implementation can be strengthened and made more fluid. The levels of knowledge regarding legislation, institutions and processes of public interaction with the legislative and policy-making and implementation institutions, and the intention to participate in these processes, are regarded as important. Among others, the concept participation and the impact of the process of public participation as well as the extent of awareness of the South African public with regard to its democratic rights and freedom and newly acquired opportunities of interaction in policy-making and implementation are examined. The issues of concern in which the South African public would like to participate are also examined.