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George Municipality hosts successful public participation sessions across all 28 Wards

In the photo above, Hendrik Ingo, Ashley Ruiters, Elizabeth Manyana and Suzette Fortuin from Ward 6 at the public participation session at Conville.

George Municipality recently hosted a series of public participation sessions as part of the annual review of the 2025/2026 Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The sessions provided Ward Councillors and Ward Committee members with a platform to update and discuss progress on ward priorities across all 28 wards in the municipal area.

During the engagements, councillors and committee members were presented with their individual ward priorities and given the opportunity to reflect on the progress of each. Service delivery departments also delivered short presentations outlining their activities, achievements, and challenges within the respective wards. A key focus was to provide feedback on the implementation of the ten capital and ten operational priorities per ward, as identified by communities and outlined in the IDP.

“These engagements aimed to report back on priorities raised during the first round of public participation,” explained Ronél Valla, who chaired the meetings alongside Dr Kosie Haarhoff, both from the Directorate: IDP, Strategic Growth and Development. Valla noted that the sessions were successful and that valuable feedback was received from Ward Committee members and councillors.
The sessions took place from 21–31 October in Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, Conville, and the George Banquet Hall.

The primary objective of the municipality is to keep communities informed about developments, initiatives, and the roles of sector departments whose responsibilities may fall outside the mandate of George Municipality. The powers and functions of local government are defined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act (Act 117 of 1998). The implementation of these functions varies across sectors and is often influenced by provincial discretion with regard to delegated responsibilities.

Deputy Director of Strategic Growth and Development, Dr Kosie Haarhoff, highlighted the importance of regular feedback in maintaining positive relationships between government and the public. “Citizen-centric governance is important because it leads to more sustainable and equitable development by ensuring that government services and policies prioritise the needs and aspirations of the people they serve. When government is responsive to the needs of citizens and makes services accessible, it builds a stronger bond of trust,” said Dr Haarhoff.

“In South Africa, increasing community protests and unrest have often been fuelled by a lack of timely feedback and meaningful participation in decision-making,” Dr Haarhoff remarked. “By providing bi-quarterly updates to Ward Councillors and Committees on the status of IDP projects, the Municipality enhances democratic participation and promotes more informed public discourse.”
He added that when updates are not provided, it can create a sense of neglect among citizens. “Regular feedback reassures communities that their concerns are being addressed and strengthens their involvement in governance.”

These public participation sessions provided an important opportunity for Ward Councillors, Committee members, and residents to contribute to the planning and decision-making processes that shape the Municipality’s development. By fostering transparent and accountable governance, the Municipality aims to strengthen community engagement, address service delivery concerns, and ensure that municipal projects continue to align with community needs.

For more information, or to get involved in future engagements, residents are encouraged to contact their Ward Councillor or the IDP Office on 044 801 9074.

Photos:

Rudy Booysen from Ward 8 asks a question at the Conville public participation meeting, while Ronél Valla from IDP, Strategic Growth and Development looks on.

Patrick Moolman, Vida Josephs, Alida Paul and Mary-Jane Boezak from Ward 20 at the meeting.

Officials from George Municipality from different Directorates at the meeting.

Edward Nqumse from Electrical Engineering Services addresses the meeting, while Dr Kosie Haarhoff and Ronél Valla from IDP, Strategic Growth and Development looks on.