INTERVIEW LEGISLATURES
As we celebrate Freedom Month, it’s fitting that we reflect on one of the wonderful gifts democracy has given us: our legislatures. Prof. Kondlo is a Professor of International Political Economy at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Before he joined UJ, he was a Senior Professor and Director of the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State and has prior experience working in government. He’s the author of two books, has co-edited five others and had the privilege of being the first black CEO of what is now known as the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI). The Institute for the Study of Legislatures in South Africa is his non-profit response to the need for engagement between legislatures, the communities they represent and tertiary institutions. We asked Professor Kwandiwe Kondlo, one of the founding members of the Institute for the Study of Legislatures in South Africa (ISL), about the importance of public participation
The Institute for the Study of Legislatures Why effective public participation in the democratic process is crucial - meet Prof. Kwandiwe Kondlo
52 | Public Sector Leaders | April 2022
HOW CAN WE INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION? The issue is not about increasing public participation, especially if one is talking about numbers. The issue is not how many forums of public participation must be there in a year but it is about making public participation more effective, more focused, results driven and more owned by communities. As the ISL we have clear positions on this matter but
