Rivonia Circle took its Democracy Builder programme to Braamfischerville in Soweto’s Ward 49 a community with much to say about the promise and the reality of democracy in South Africa.
Throughout the workshop, participants voiced a compelling and sobering reflection: that while democracy has delivered freedom in principle, that freedom remains largely out of reach for ordinary citizens. In its place, a culture of corruption enabled by those in political power has taken root, leaving communities feeling locked out of the very system meant to serve them.
Participants left the workshop committed to launching a community driven accountability campaign, one in which every resident will engage with their local ward councillor on a daily basis. The campaign is currently in its planning phase.
