Dr. Wendy Tsoriyo presents paper on Inclusive Local Governance Reforms

Dr. Wendy Tsoriyo presented a paper titled, 'Towards Inclusive Local Governance Reforms: The Socio-Demographic Dynamics of Citizen Participation in Gauteng Province of South Africa,' at the Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSADPAM) conference. Her presentation highlighted the critical need for citizen participation in local governance and the barriers that prevent it.

The study, which utilized GCRO Quality of Life (QoL)'s sixth iteration of 2020/21 data, revealed that 67% of respondents did not participate in any of the available platforms like ward meetings, integrated development plans, community forums, and imbizos. The study also found that different age groups had different participation levels.

To address this, Dr. Tsoriyo recommended increasing education and awareness programs to remind communities of their right to participate in local governance. Policymakers must understand the preferences of different groups to reach a more diverse audience. The study also suggested experimenting with digital technologies while addressing representation gaps.

It is crucial to understand that citizen participation in local governance is not only a right but a responsibility. It is up to all of us to make our voices heard to create a more inclusive and just society. Dr. Tsoriyo's study is a call to action for policymakers, educators, and citizens to work together to promote citizen participation in local governance.