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Seminar Information

19 March 2010: Working out a Harmonious Relationship between Traditional Leadership and Local Government

As the Eastern Cape moves towards the finalisation of its Rural Development Strategy, a significant amount of resources is being re-directed to rural development activities. As such the different spheres of government must find their space in the improvement of the lives of rural people.

Ever since the introduction of elected leadership in wards through the councilors and ward committees, there has been a power struggle between the democratic and the traditional structures of leadership at the expense of development. Yet, these sets of leadership are crucial to the successful implementation of the rural development programme. How can we achieve a harmonious working relationship between the two sets of leadership for the benefit of the people?

   

27 November 2009: A Critical Review of the Role of Civil Society Formations in Promoting Development and Good Governance

It has been argued by academics and activists that civil society organisatiosn flourish best apart from active politics. However, history has continuously shown that in most cases, active citizenship is a response to the political environment whether positive or negative. Civil society organisations have been seen as a representative of the vulnerable to the society and government.  The political unrest in South Africa in the 1980s led to the activism of the United Democratic Front, which had more than 50 civil society organisations committed to making the country politically ungovernable.

This spirit of purpose and unity carried on to the releasing of political prisoners and the establishment of Sanco in 1992. It has been argued that the need for leadership in the new South Africa crippled civil society organisations as many leaders were deployed into government, and therefore represent government instead of civil society. Others have argued that the partnership between Sanco and the ANC led to Sanco being silenced by the ruling party and being ineffective.

Click here to view Seminar Invitation 261.52 Kb

Click here to view Seminar Programme 110.34 Kb

   

7 October 2009: Democracy, Protests and Development

Afesis-corplan, in partnership with iKwezi Institute and the Rosa Luxenburg Foundation, invites you to a seminar in Port Elizabeth on Democracy, Protests and Development.

The seminar will follow a similar format to the one held in East London on Tuesday, 29 September 2009.

A draft programme will be posted shortly.

   

29 September 2009: Democracy, Protests and Development

Afesis-corplan, in partnership with iKwezi Institute and the Rosa Luxenburg Foundation, invites you to a seminar in East London on Democracy, Protests and Development.

South Africa is celebrating fifteen years of democratic governance, which has seen our nascent institutions of democracy maturing over the years, thanks to the political leadership that made it possible for our democracy to develop. But, as we celebrate the maturing of our democracy, we are also experiencing a serious challenge of protests around services delivery that have become very ferocious and violent in their manifestation. The protests are national in their character and questions still linger regarding their causes. Some have suggested political factionalism within the ANC, or even a third force—something beyond the actual and perceived indifferent service delivery performance by municipalities. The democratic government has, indeed, delivered social services such as water, electricity, housing, etc., throughout the country in the past fifteen years, more so than the entire period of apartheid and colonialism before in a short period of time.  How then, do we explain the serious upsurge of violent protests?

In March 2010, IKwezi Institute will be launching a National Research on Protests, Development and Democracy with the aim of thoroughly reflecting on what might be the background to the protests that have engulfed South Africa. But, prior to the launch of the National Research, the research concept will be discussed in all the provinces through provincial seminars that will bring together national and provincial leaders, policy makers, councilors, and activists, etc., to reflect and share ideas on what might be the causes of the protests, and perhaps provide some insights that will inform the impending national research.

   

28 August 2009: Promoting Good Governance in Local Government: The Ehlanzeni Local Municipality GGS Case Study

Afesis-corplan takes pleasure in inviting you to its Local Government Seminar. The objective of the seminar is to critically assess how the Good Governance Surveys (GGS) enhance accountability and public participation to assist local government officials in providing interventions that respond to the needs of the citizens.

PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
THE EHLANZENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY GGS CASE STUDY

GGS is a tool that was produced by Afesis-corplan through its wealth of experience in local governance addressing the following three key principles as per the White Paper on Local Government:
•    Political leaders remain accountable and operate within their electoral mandate
•    Citizens as individuals or groups retain the opportunity for continuous input into local policies and practices
•    Service consumers have influence over the way services are delivered and some form of co-operation or partnership occurs between civil society and the local state to assist in development

GGS has been conducted in district municipalities such as Cacadu, Ehlanzeni and Nkangala Municipality. Please join us as we present this powerful tool that will assist municipalities in understanding community views and enhance effective service delivery.

SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS
•    A critical analysis of the decade of local government ahead of the 2010 elections
•    Reflecting on transnational experiences of good governance practices and interventions
•    Presenting the Good Governance Surveys – Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Mpumalanga
•    Assessing the post-GGS period in Ehlanzeni
•    Response from District Municipalities

Click here to view the seminar invitation 250.84 Kb

   

26 June 2009: The Rural Development Dilemma: What needs to be done?

Afesis-corplan invites all interested stakeholders to attend a public seminar on 26 June 2009 at the Health Resource Centre in East London. The day's proceedings begin with registration at 08h30.
A panel of expert speakers will address issues of rural development as well as engage with participants in group discussions. Items on the programme include:

  • Rural Development: A new agenda?
  • Sustainable rural livelihoods: Making rural areas a place to live, work and play
  • Developing and sustaining the rural economy
  • Towards a new vision for rural development

Kindly contact Nontlantla Skenjana on 043 743 3830 for further information or to confirm your attendance.

Click here to download the A-c Seminar Rural Development draft Programme 101.95 Kb

Click here to download A-c Seminar Rural Development Invite 226.90 Kb

Click here to view the presentations.
   

27 March 2009: Elections 2009 – What's in it for the Eastern Cape?

The newly appointed Premier of the Eastern Cape in his first address noted that health, education, local government, rural development and public service accountability were priorities for the province. At Afesis-corplan's first quarterly seminar for the year, we will be looking at the views of political parties on these issues.

Venue: Health Resource Centre
Date: Friday, 27 March 2009
Time: 09h00-14h00

Click here to view the programme and presentations.

   

21 November 2008: Post-Mbeki South Africa – Where are we headed?

Afesis-corplan hosted its final seminar for the year on 21 November 2008 at the Health Resource Centre in East London. The topic under discussion was ‘Post-Mbeki South Africa – Where are we headed?’. The seminar was a follow on to the one held in August on ‘Post-Polokwane ANC: Implications on Governance in SA’. It was inspired by the recent ‘high voltage’ political developments in the country.

Guest speakers included Rapule Tabane (Mail & Guardian), Victor Shale (Electoral Institute of Southern Africa),  Stephen Mago and Jephias Matunhu (University of Fort Hare), as well as representatives from the African National Congress Youth League and Azanian People’s Organisation.

Click here to view the presentations.

   

October 2008: Land Access Workshop Series

Afesis-corplan in partnership with Urban Land Mark  held a series of workshops on ‘Land Access’ in Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg, Cape Town and East London during October 2008. The workshops brought together role-players from government institutions, communities and NGOs to identify and discuss the existing and potential opportunities for improving the ability of the poor to access land.

Click here to view the presentations.

Click here to view the invitation.

Click here to view the agenda.  

Click here to read the article 'From Eradication to Upgrade'.

   

29 August 2008: Post-Polokwane ANC - Implications on Governance in SA

This seminar topic was influenced by recent developments and events in the country, more notably Hellen Zille’s assertions that 14 years after independence the ANC is divided between its verligtes (the more ‘progressive’ individuals), who support constitutional rule, and its verkramptes, (more conservative and ‘defending the revolution’) who want to subordinate the Constitution to the pursuit of power and as a result ‘comrades’ are fighting each other. 

The event took place on 29 August 2008 in East London and provided a platform for constructive debate on the following questions:

  • In the face of violent rhetoric by the ANC leadership, is our constitutional democracy under real threat?
  • Is the overall stability and inter-community cohesion being undermined? If so, what are the remedies?
  • What are the likely scenarios in the 2009 elections given the recent developments (including the change of guard at Luthuli House)?
  • Are there likely to be political re-alignments among opposition parties?
  • Do the recent activities present an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the politics of South Africa for the better?

Our panel of speakers included:

  • Mr Athol Trollip, DA Provincial leader
  • Professor Aminur Rahim (University of Fort Hare)
  • Dr Costa Gazi (PAC BCM Chief Whip)
  • Mr Lekale Mashego (ANCYL: Gauteng)
  • Mr Teboho Qolosha – Young Communist League Perspective
  • Mr Prince Mashele (ISS)

Click here to view the available presentations.

Click here to read Bonginkosi Masiwa's article "Populism is still in vogue".

   

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