Democratic Structures (Grade 11 NSC Matric Life Orientation): Revision Notes

Democratic Structures

Democratic structures in South Africa operate at various levels, from national parliament down to local community organisations. These structures provide different ways for citizens to participate in governing the country and making decisions that affect their lives.

Political structures

Political structures are the official bodies that run the country and make important decisions. The people in charge of these structures are politicians who have been elected by voters.

National government

The national government operates through several key bodies:

• Parliament: This includes the President, Deputy President and various Ministers who make and carry out laws for the whole country
• National Assembly: The main law-making body where MPs debate and vote on legislation
• National Council of Provinces: Represents the interests of each province at national level

How you can participate:

• Comment on the law-making process through public submissions
• Submit petitions to Parliament
• Vote in national elections every five years
• Stand for election as an MP
• Lobby government about specific issues through letters, meetings or phone calls

Provincial government

Each of South Africa's nine provinces has its own government structure:

• Legislature: Led by the Speaker, this body makes laws that affect the province only
• Provincial Government: Led by the Premier and Members of the Executive Council (MECs)

These bodies focus on making and carrying out laws and policies that affect their specific province rather than the whole country.

Local government

Local government is the level closest to ordinary citizens and includes:

• Metropolitan Councils: Found in major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Buffalo City and Mangaung
• District Councils: Made up of several Local Municipalities, divided into wards with ward committees
• Local Councils/Municipalities: Focus on service delivery in smaller areas

Key functions of local government:

• Make and carry out by-laws for local communities
• Provide democratic and accountable government
• Ensure sustainable services like water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal
• Promote social and economic development
• Create a safe and healthy environment
• Encourage community participation in local governance
• Plan and manage local budgets

How you can participate:

• Attend Council meetings when budgets are debated and voted on
• Serve on a ward committee
• Attend public meetings and hearings
• Get appointed to community representative committees
• Be informed of municipal council decisions
• Attend izimbizo (large-scale community meetings)
• Work as a volunteer at service delivery organisations

Traditional authorities

Traditional leaders and councils play an important role, especially in rural areas:

Functions:

• Help involve traditional communities in local government development planning
• Support municipalities in identifying community needs
• Make recommendations about service delivery
• Participate in development programmes at municipal, provincial and national levels
• Promote indigenous knowledge systems
• Administer traditional community affairs according to custom and tradition
• Assist and guide traditional leaders in their functions
• Participate in developing local policy and legislation
• Warn municipalities about dangers threatening people in traditional council areas
• Perform duties according to customary law that aligns with the Constitution

How you can participate:

• Attend traditional council meetings
• Ensure councils follow the law and don't discriminate

Political parties

Political parties represent different viewpoints and interests in society. Examples include the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Congress of the People, Inkatha Freedom Party, and Independent Democrats.

Functions:

• Represent voters' interests
• Represent particular viewpoints on issues
• Educate and inform the public on important matters

How you can participate:

• Vote for your preferred party
• Join a political organisation
• Stand as a candidate in elections
• Take part in party activities at local level

Local community structures

Local community structures are public organisations that are not run by politicians but by groups of ordinary citizens. These structures focus on local issues affecting their specific area or community.

Civil society organisations (CSOs)

These include:

• Interest groups: Focus on specific issues or causes
• NGOs (Non-governmental organisations): Organisations not part of government, like Child Welfare
• Community-based organisations: Serve local community needs
• Faith-based organisations: Non-profit groups formed by people sharing the same religion

Functions:

• Monitor government performance
• Advocate for citizens' rights and needs
• Assist with service delivery in communities
• Represent groups of people with common interests and concerns

How you can participate:

• Get involved in existing organisations
• Participate in youth and women's groups, neighbourhood watches, school governing bodies, environmental and human rights advocacy groups
• Start your own civil society organisation or advocacy project

Representative council of learners

The South African Schools Act requires every public school enrolling Grade 8 or higher learners to establish a representative council of learners (RCL). This is the only legally recognised learner representative body at schools.

Functions:

• Build unity among learners
• Address the needs of all learners
• Keep learners informed about school and community events
• Encourage good relationships between learners and educators, and between learners and other staff members
• Encourage positive relationships between educators and parents
• Establish links with RCLs in other schools and youth organisations

How you can participate:

• Stand for election to your school's RCL
• Hold meetings to discuss learner concerns
• Participate actively in RCL activities and decision-making

Principles and functions of structures and how structures change

Constitutions

A constitution is a legal 'founding document' that serves as the foundation on which an organisation is built. Many democratic structures have constitutions, including government bodies, NGOs, community-based organisations, residents' associations and youth groups.

A constitution typically states:

• The purpose of the organisation (why it exists)
• Aims and objectives (what the organisation intends to achieve)
• Type of organisation (for example, a not-for-profit voluntary association)
• Membership rules (who can join, duties and rights of members)
• Structures and procedures for decision-making (meetings, elections, appointments, getting work done)
• Roles, rights and responsibilities of people in specific positions
• How money and assets are controlled
• How to close the organisation if necessary

Elections and representation of constituencies

Different democratic structures hold elections in various ways:

National and provincial elections happen every five years. You vote for political parties rather than individual candidates. The party receives seats in Parliament based on the number of votes it gets. Each party then selects members to fill the seats it has won. This system is called proportional representation (PR).

Metropolitan municipal elections occur every five years. You vote for a political party and for a ward candidate of your choice to represent you.

Local municipal elections take place every five years. You have three votes: one for your individual representative on the local council ward, and two votes for a political party (one for local council and one for district council).

Municipal by-elections happen when a ward councillor dies, is expelled, or resigns and their seat becomes vacant.

Community organisations also hold elections to choose chairpersons and other office bearers like secretaries and treasurers. These elections usually happen annually at the annual general meeting (AGM).

Mandates

A mandate is the power to act that voters give to their elected leaders. Acts of law also give mandates to institutions. For example, the South African Revenue Service Act gives SARS the mandate to collect taxes. The Broadcasting Act gives the SABC a mandate to be a public broadcaster. If laws change, mandates may also change.

Lobbying

Lobbying means trying to influence government officials or people in positions of power to make decisions for or against something.

Examples of lobbying:

• Individuals or organisations lobbying government to change tax laws
• Parents lobbying school governing bodies to provide lunches at school
• HIV and AIDS activists lobbying the President to provide affordable treatment for people who are HIV-positive
• Residents' associations lobbying municipalities to create parks

Ways people lobby include:

• Writing letters and emails to people in power
• Holding informal discussions with committee members and decision-makers
• Attending meetings (like parliamentary hearings)
• Organising petitions
• Using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to gain support

Advocacy

Advocacy is the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. Citizens or groups start campaigns to influence decisions about particular issues. They raise awareness about the issue and lobby government about it.

Advocacy campaigns can raise awareness by:

• Organising public meetings to inform people about issues
• Distributing information leaflets
• Using media (radio, television, internet) to gather public support
• Organising petitions
• Writing to MPs and local councillors
• Organising marches and demonstrations
• Creating songs and artistic expressions

How and why structures change

Democratic structures can change for several reasons:

• The people in leadership positions change
• Their constitutions are amended
• Their mandates are altered by new laws
• They are influenced through advocacy and lobbying campaigns

These changes help structures adapt to new circumstances and respond to citizens' evolving needs.

Running meetings

If you want to influence structures and organisations, you can organise or attend different types of meetings:

Types of meetings:

• Public meetings: Local council meetings, parliamentary debates
• Private meetings: Appointments with local councillors, mayors or provincial ministers
• Izimbizo: Large community meetings where Local Councils provide feedback and listen to community concerns
• Committee or AGMs: Of community organisations or NGOs

By attending meetings, you can learn what's happening and often have opportunities to share your ideas and concerns.

Processes for participating in structures and governance

Ways to participate

Civil society and ordinary citizens strengthen democracy by participating in its structures. Participation means people work together cooperatively to develop the country.

People can participate through:

• Local and community structures
• School governing bodies
• Community policing forums
• NGOs and community organisations

Citizens can even participate in making laws that affect everyone. Government departments follow specific steps when creating new laws, and some steps allow public comment and submissions.

The law-making process

The formal law-making process consists of 12 basic steps: