e-Participation in Municipalities
e-Participation is the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to increase citizen involvement in: public decision-making processes; policy-making; and service delivery.
Through the ePPMOSA project, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and partners have been piloting e-participation and policy modelling technologies and methods in selected municipalities across South Africa. The goal is to support and enhance existing local government public participation initiatives. The project has set up an e-Participation Toolkit that addresses some of the issues and opportunities related to current e-participation practice.
In August 2025, COMPACT gave a presentation at the ePPMOSA E-Participation Learning Forum organised by HSRC and SALGA. Representatives from COMPACT partner municipalities – City of uMhlathuze and JB Marks Local Municipality – attended the learning forum and provided reflections on using e-participation approaches in their municipalities.
COMPACT also supports the work of Open Cities Lab (OCL) , which uses technology to create tools and interventions that strengthen capacity within local government and empower citizens. OCL’s My Councillor and My Representative platforms provide information on municipal councillors and track their performance over time.
Another initiative is Fixlocal , a service developed by Heartlines which is accessible via a website and WhatsApp. Fixlocal provides actionable guides on reporting municipal service issues, escalating complaints, and engaging in local governance processes.
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