Roundtable Discussion: The Green Voter’s Guide

Date: 16 September 2016

Time: 14h00 for 14h30 – 17h00

Venue: Trinity Hall, 12 Stiemens Street, Braamfontein

Ongoing protests against the lack of access to basic services (often violent and destructive), have become the norm in many municipalities and metros across South Africa, whether DA or ANC-led. Clearly, local authorities are not meeting the needs of all citizens equally and there is a weak link between these authorities and the communities they serve. The South African local government elections of 2016, where citizens elect local councillors to represent them at the municipal level, have recently been concluded, and we have seen significant political shifts in some municipalities. This opens the possibility of new forms of engagement between citizens and local-level politicians. At the same time, municipalities do not have unlimited resources. In addition to financial limitations, the provision of basic service delivery into the future will have to take account of increasing environmental limitations. The impact of climate change is just one. Household electrification, water and sanitation services, waste management and spatial planning all have impacts on – or are impacted by – the natural environment. This roundtable discussion aims to stimulate and contribute to public discourse on how citizens and local politics respond (or should respond) to environmental justice issues.

Speakers:

Mr Stephen Law (Executive Director, Environmental Monitoring Group)

Mr David van Wyk (Researcher, Bench Mark Foundation)

SALGA Representative (TBC)

Please RSVP before Tuesday, 13 September 2016 to Palesa Ngwenya at palesa@cplo.org.za or (021) 461 1417.