YOUTH COUNCILLORS' PERCEPTIONS OF PARTICIPATION AT A MUNICIPAL LEVEL: THE CASE OF A LIMPOPO DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Edith Dinong Phaswana

doi:10.25159/0304-615X/1512

Authors

Edith Dinong Phaswana University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/0304-615X/1512

Keywords:

youth council, participation, South Africa, municipality

Abstract

Over the past three decades youth participation as a theoretical, practical and policy approach has gained popularity globally. In 1996, South Africa established various youth institutions at national, provincial and local level. This has translated into many adult organisations having to make a shift in their thinking and operations. This includes municipalities at local level. In this paper, I focus on one district municipality in the Limpopo province to examine youth participation practices. I use Driskell and Kudva’s framework of spaces of participation for adult-run organisations seeking to promote youth participation to examine the appropriateness of a municipality as a space for participation practice. My research shows that adult attitudes towards young people can potentially undermine the creation of other participatory spaces However, bounded operational issues can be countered by the structural opportunities existing there.

Author Biography

Edith Dinong Phaswana, University of South Africa

Senior Lecturer, Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute

References

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