Community manifestos could give residents a stronger voice in holding elected representatives accountable, according to ACT Ubumbano director Ashley Green-Thompson.

His comments came as the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and its partners, explored ways to strengthen democratic participation through the futures of democracy initiative, whose first regional convening, Beyond the ballot box: (Re)Imagining Africa’s democratic futures: Southern Africa Imaginarium, took place in Houghton from October 19 to 21.

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The three-day convening brought together civil society representatives from across the Southern African development community region to discuss democratic governance, public trust, accountability and citizen participation.

Green-Thompson said democracy had become too closely associated with elections, with insufficient attention given to how communities could influence decisions once elected representatives took office.

“You cannot leave it just to election time,” he said.

One way to strengthen participation, Green-Thompson suggested, is through community manifestos that allow residents to identify their priorities and set out what they expect from candidates seeking their votes.

Rather than waiting for politicians to present their promises, communities could develop their own demands and ask candidates to commit to them.

These commitments would not necessarily need to involve detailed policy proposals. They could include practical measures, such as regular reports to residents on progress made in addressing local concerns.

Green-Thompson suggested that candidates could sign an agreement committing themselves to these expectations, with consequences if they failed to deliver. This could give communities a clearer basis on which to question their representatives throughout their terms.

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Green-Thompson also raised concerns about the growing disconnect between elected officials and the people they represent. He pointed to declining voter turnout in South Africa as an indication that some politicians had become increasingly disconnected from residents’ everyday concerns.

He argued that the influence of political parties over who becomes a representative, particularly under proportional representation systems, could weaken accountability to local communities.

When representatives depend heavily on party structures for their political positions, the relationship between them and the people they serve can become less direct.

Green-Thompson said electoral reform could be part of the solution, alongside stronger pressure on political parties to address corruption. He also highlighted the importance of transparent political party funding.

While parties could raise funds, he said the public needed to be able to scrutinise where the money came from and whether donors’ interests influenced political decisions.

Youth participation was another concern raised by Green-Thompson, who cautioned against simply describing young people as apathetic. He argued that some young people had disengaged because they felt the political system did not serve them, pointing to unemployment and the limited representation of younger generations in positions of power.

He said efforts to involve young people needed to meet them in spaces where they already felt comfortable, rather than expecting them to participate only in established political or civic forums.

For Green-Thompson, strengthening democracy requires more than encouraging people to vote; it means creating opportunities for communities to influence decisions, question those in power and remain involved between elections.

Community manifestos offer one possible way to put residents’ expectations at the centre of the relationship between voters and elected representatives.

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