Action for Accountability (A4A) hosts a community forum

Action for Accountability (A4A) staff members from Lenasia, Finetown and Mondeor in Johannesburg south and Makhanda in the Eastern Cape convened a community forum on October 18 at Lido Hotel, Eikenhof.

The gathering was a mid-term review meeting of the project #A4A in these areas.

The A4A Forum, co-funded by the European Union (UN), is an initiative with the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF) and Accountability Lab South Africa (ALSA).

The A4A project is implemented in four local sites – Finetown, Mondeor, Lenasia and Makhanda. The initiative works to enhance public service accountability and good governance in South African communities through resident-led action for transparency and assured public participation.

During the meeting, members of A4A engaged in insightful discussions on maintaining and strengthening key aspects of the project’s continued developments and success in these sites. All four sites exchanged information about the successes and challenges faced in their efforts for responsible local governance.

The pressing need for accountability within governance has become increasingly evident, yet civic engagement and active participation in many South African communities remain relatively low.

The forum, attended by residents of the four sites, councillors and the advisor to the office of the speaker at the City of Johannesburg, featured presentations from local activists within the project (CivActs) and experts in the field of accountability.

Modiehi Skosana, audit senior manager at The Auditor General of South Africa, demonstrated the essential roles of accountants and auditors in protecting the interests of the public. Skosana emphasised efforts from all spheres of government are crucial in strengthening our democracy, which is currently under threat due to poor service delivery.

WaterCAN executive manager, Dr Ferial Adam, an advocate on the ongoing water crisis in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), called for national government and utility entities such as Rand Water, Joburg Water, the CoJ and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to engage in collaborative discussions.

In her presentation, Adam stressed the importance of involving affected communities in these dialogues, recognising those on the ground have valuable insights into the situation. She described the water crisis as ‘a matter of life and death’, emphasising that access to water is a fundamental need.

Projects like A4A and WaterCan, according to Adam, should from being local initiatives, evolve into a nationwide movement.

The stories and experiences shared by each of the four communities represented at the forum served as a powerful testament to the potential of coming together to drive change through acquiring accountability skills and calling for accountability in service delivery.

The success of the A4A Forum has highlighted the urgent need for more residents and stakeholders to join this cause and make it a national movement. It is a plea to government bodies at all levels, to become allies in the joint effort to establish a culture of accountability and good governance across the nation.

The A4A project, co-funded by the Social Justice Initiative, is determined to continue its mission to empower South African communities to build a culture of accountability. Through this, the voices of citizens are not just heard but actively shape the governance landscape.

Through strategic partnerships and community-driven initiatives, A4A remains dedicated to driving positive change in the pilot sites while advocating for accountability and participatory governance in communities across South Africa.