Citizen heroes tackle municipal dysfunction head on

Melville resident and local champion Danny Nunes participated in a discussion about how communities and civil society are tackling the mismanagement of municipalities in a talk hosted by Joburg CAN.

Joburg CAN, an Outa initiative, aims to empower networks of community organisations and individuals who are picking up the slack for local government.

Nunes spoke about creating Creass Community Services and his work with the Melville Security Initiative – two outfits working hand in glove to uplift the area.

Residents donate or pay for services which fund the work they carry out.

“We work with the broken window theory where if you fix the small things, the big problems are reduced. One example is a busy intersection where car accidents were common. We painted the road markings and the accidents decreased.

“Another was finding sponsors for a couple of solar lights in an area where streetlights were not working – muggings lessened. It is the small acts that collectively have a large impact.”

When it comes to coordinating programmes, everyone is held responsible. “We have ensured our working relationship with local government entities is strong and built on the foundations of respect.

“From City Parks to the Johannesburg Roads Agency, I have spent years building those links to a point where we can successfully ask for help when a problem appears, but where they too can ask us for assistance with something if they are stretched and not able to respond to an issue as quickly as may be necessary. It is working very well and is something I’d encourage all citizen-led movements and groups to foster.”

He says having an active residents’ association and a dedicated ward councillor has been critical.

Yunus Chamda from Action for Accountability also shared his experience in holding those in power to account.

Operating in Gauteng and further afield they use a different model. “We applied for formal funding from various places to enable us to carry out our work.

“Our various sites have well-organised teams of volunteers who have had great success in holding the municipality to account. This includes the opening of a clinic in Finetown which was built but not opened for four years, or ensuring massive trenches dug by city entities are backfilled and so on.”

Julius Kleynhans, Outa executive for local government said, “We need a common vehicle where community organisations and leaders can work together to protect and uphold our democratic dispensation. We can and must learn from each other and hold municipalities accountable because currently so many rights are being infringed on by a lack of service delivery.”

When it comes to citizens stepping forward, he says the three T’s should be kept in mind: time, tithe and talent. “We all have something to contribute be it funds, time, or talent. If we can all identify local champions the blanket of people and groups working for good is immeasurable.”

Nunes ended by saying, “Every area has someone willing to help, you just need to identify them, inspire and empower them and you’ll never look back.”

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