Impressive citizen collaboration improves all of our lives

It is going to be a momentous year. Countries representing more than half the world ’ s population go to the polls in 2024, with potentially huge consequences. Science and technology are taking off at an astonishing rate. El Nino is back, with its threat of further global warming. Paris will host the Olympics. And that’s only the stuff we know about.

Amid momentous events we may feel insignificant . But it is local level services that often affect our lives most, and people with business insight and experience have something special to offer in support of effective local government.

Holiday travel gave me some interesting examples of this. Similar things are happening in many places, so forgive my anecdotal perspective from the Eastern Cape and southern Cape coasts.

Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) is a joint project of the Hermanus Ratepayers Association and the Overberg District Municipality, which fund it through a special levy on property taxes in a “special rating area”. HPP collaborates with Overstrand Local Municipality law enforcement, the police, neighbourhood watches, security firms, residents’ associations and other stakeholders.

It employs foot patrols, three vehicles and CCTV cameras to bring security and provides supplementary cleansing services. As a result we were able to walk safely on the magnificent cliff path and Fernkloof hiking trails of Hermanus.

In Morgan Bay near the Wild Coast the local authority may not be as highly regarded but the ratepayers have worked with officials to get the job done rather than to show up the politicians. The result is substantial projects. On a modest annual subscription residents have themselves tarred a number of roads, kept verges beautifully clear, disposed of waste and, in close partnership with the municipality, earned the Green Coast flag. There are common themes in these cases. They focus on what works rather than what looks good or earns plaudits. And, they collaborate to ensure as many people as possible can win.

Politicians need to compete for votes, which requires boasting about one’s achievements and minimising those of others. That can distract them from drawing on expertise outside their own party. But when people who have no aspiration to hold public office get involved and insist on not being a threat, they are free to drop their reluctance, collaborate and encourage the success of others.

Long-term success comes from ensuring all stakeholders see value in collaborating. Poor performance must be confronted, but that is best done in private, while achievements are commended in public.

Another common theme is that they set up processes and structures that are sustainable. The HPP has a board member with the portfolio of extending the Hermanus special rating area agreement beyond the date it is due to end in June 2025.

Projects are far more likely to be sustainable when they benefit all residents. The poorest voters need to see benefit from their representatives collaborating with well-resourced residents and businesses.

Successful projects are driven by people who find deep personal satisfaction in doing something worthwhile. It is impressive how much time and energy ordinary citizens are prepared to invest for no material return from the retired professional spending hours each day administering a ratepayer association, to a farmer sitting on his tractor for hours mowing the road verges.

That is what improves all of our lives and makes life worth living, whatever the elections may bring. Let’s not leave it to the politicians.