By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
CAPE TOWN/South Africa: The purpose and roles of Street Committees are under review as experts and community leaders analyze the potential of this layer of leadership for effective governance. Street Committees have the power to overcome service delivery challenges and unlock progress in communities.
A recent publication by Ndwakhulu Stephen Tshishonga from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, titled “Entrenching Community (Participatory) Governance Through Street Committees at Cato Crest,” sheds light on the purpose and role of Street Committees. The study advocates for revitalizing these committees as democratically elected and managed structures aimed at restoring inclusive local democracy, peace, and order.
The research argues that the current partisan configuration of Street Committees compromises their fundamental purpose of uniting people across race, culture, gender, and socio-economic class. It also highlights how Street Committees can be hijacked to serve political agendas, emphasizing the need for clear developmental roles.
To gather data, Tshishonga conducted observations and face-to-face interviews with Street Committees at Cato Crest. The study also drew on secondary sources such as journal papers, books, and government reports.
The Vukukhanye Community Upliftment Initiatives stress that the primary objective of Street Committees is to involve the community in creating a happy, peaceful, and productive environment. Community involvement and effective communication with local government departments, including police, social welfare, and infrastructure services, are crucial for the success of Street Committees.
Another study by Ivan Ntsasa Mngqibisa from the University of Cape Town explores the role of Street Committees in community governance, focusing on Waterworks Township in Grabouw, Western Cape. Mngqibisa’s research reveals that although Street Committees have a role to play in community governance, their lack of power limits their effectiveness. As non-statutory bodies, Street Committees face challenges in participating in local government issues. Despite these limitations, the Street Committee in Waterworks was largely perceived by local residents as addressing pertinent issues, although some accusations of nepotism and political patronage were made.
Former Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, highlighted the importance of Street Committees in the fight against crime. He emphasized the need for civil society involvement and strategic partnerships with communities to push back against criminality.
The Bonteheuwel Development Forum (BDF) emphasizes that Street Committees must focus on issues affecting their respective streets or neighborhoods and remain independent from political parties and figures. The BDF’s mission is to combat poverty, inequality, and social ills through community-centered interventions.
In Grahamstown East, citizens participated in the launch of the community street committees initiative, a collaborative effort between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Makana Municipality. The initiative aims to empower citizens and encourage visible policing in areas with high crime rates.
To maximize their impact, Street Committees should serve as empowerment agencies, running Feeding Scheme programs in partnership with stakeholders. They should actively seek solutions to residents’ problems, collaborating with community structures, businesses, government, and other sectors. Communication is key, with Street Committees utilizing social media tools like Facebook pages and WhatsApp groups to keep residents informed about job opportunities, workshops, seminars, and training. Regular meetings should be held at easily accessible venues to engage with all residents on matters concerning their streets.
By engaging in activities that cater to different age groups, such as sports, recreation, and the arts, Street Committees can fulfill their developmental imperative and bring government and service delivery closer to the people.
Thandisizwe Mgudlwa, a freelance journalist, contributed to this report.
