Community participation: The cornerstone of (local) participatory democracy

Abstract

Community participation is key to the functioning of local government. One of the constitutional objects of local government is to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in local government. The landmark Doctors for Life and Matatiele judgments, passed by the Constitutional Court in August 2006, are critical for the interpretation of the law of community participation in local government. The judgments are fundamental, particularly in relation to the nature and scope of the duty to involve the community in decision making as well as the enforceability of the legal provisions on community participation.