How to be an Active Citizen in 2025
1.Vote in By-Elections
A by-election takes place in a ward in a municipality, between general municipal elections which are held every five years.
To find out where your local Municipal Electoral office is, and when by elections take place, Visit the IEC website or call the National Office. You can also check out the IEC's social media pages.
Website: www.elections.org.za
Tel: 0800 11 8000 or Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp 060 088 0000
Twitter: @IECSouthAfrica
2.Participate in Parliament
There are many ways to keep track of Parliamentary activities and politics. Attend Parliamentary meetings, monitor debates, submit written comments or participate in public hearings. Visit the Parliamentary Monitoring Group's website here
To attend committee meetings at Parliament, visit PMG's Daily Schedules for details on committee meetings.
To comment on legislation, visit PMG's Calls for Comment page.
See detailed Committee meeting reports or search for a report you are interested in here
3.Contact your representative
Reach out to your elected officals to express your opinions on issues that matter to you. Contact the political party you support to find out where your local constituency office is located.
Use our Write-To tool here to send a message to a member of Parliament or Portfolio Committee.
Visit the People’s Assembly Website here to see MP profiles, read MP coner interviews and public education content on topical issues.
4.Protest and Petition
The right to protest is protected by Section 17 of South Africa’s Constitution. Citizens are allowed to peacefully assemble, demonstrate, picket, and present petitions. Protesting without following procedure is illegal including attending an unlawful gathering. Visit Law for All for more information.
There are several types of petitions in South Africa, including single petitions, association petitions, collective petitions, mass petitions, special petitions and public petitions.
Petitions can be an effective way to raise issues and improve service delivery in communities.
Single petition:A request or complaint made by a single person.
Association petition: A request or complaint made by an association or a single person acting on behalf of an association.
Collective petition:A request or complaint made by a group of people who have signed a petition.
Mass petition: A request or complaint made by a group of people, either individually or in groups, who have similar requests or complaints.
Special petition: A request for personal relief from the state that is not authorized by law.
Public petition: A request for general relief or redress of a grievance made by a group of people with similar interests.
5.Volunteer
You can contribute to education and development in South Africa through volunteer work.
Volunteer programs include teaching, sports, public health education programs and women's empowerment programs.
Contact NGOs in the social justice sector or your local Community-Based Organizations to get involved in a cause that you are passionate about.
Use People's Assembly and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group to be an active citizen in 2025!
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