This survey forms part of a larger programme of the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) which aims to enhance participatory democracy in South African municipalities. In 2001, South African municipalities adopted a structured form of participative democracy known as the ward committee system. The legal framework for this system consists of the Municipal Structures Act of 1998 and the Municipal Systems Act of 2000. Although only certain types of municipalities may have ward committees, by 2004 ward committees had become the most prevalent form of structured community participation in local government.

Download National Ward Committe Survey 2004/2005