Non-governmental organisation Defend our Democracy general secretary Kristen Abrahams stresses that by fostering inclusive dialogues, promoting transparency, and ensuring accountability, civil society can help create a political environment where the State is more attuned to the needs and aspirations of its citizens.

Abrahams was speaking during Defend our Democracy’s webinar on civil society’s role in the new political context, where she said civil society could act as a watchdog over the Government of National Unity (GNU), enhancing the effectiveness of constitutional accountability mechanisms.

She explained that civil society promotes transparency within coalition governments.

“…by advocating for open and accessible coalition deliberations, civil society can reduce public scepticism and improve government transparency,” she said.

Abrahams was reflecting on the organisation’s draft document on strengthening civil society in South Africa within the context of national and provincial coalition governments, which highlighted that the shift to a coalition government necessitated reassessing existing public participation mechanisms.

She noted that civil society must evaluate whether these mechanisms remained effective in the new political context or if new approaches were needed.

This re-evaluation, she said, presented an opportunity to innovate and expand public participation methods, also highlighting the need for civil society to often call for national dialogues to foster consensus among diverse political actors.

Civil society's role was not to become politicised but to provide a platform for citizen engagement and influence in the political process, she said.

“This renewed sense of participatory governance can strengthen the democratic fabric of South Africa, ensuring that government actions reflect the will and interests of its people,” she highlighted.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Mandla Nkomfe noted that a national dialogue would allow citizens to engage with politics in the country, saying communities, voters and citizens had lost trust in political organisations, in political elites, in economic elites and in businesspeople.

He said dialogue would go a long way in establishing a unified programme that inspired hope against despair.

“This process will be a long one that will involve a range of stakeholders, from businesses, civil society organisations and community organisations, all across the nation,” Nkomfe added.

Abrahams explained that creating new public participation mechanisms or enhancing existing ones could ensure that citizen voices were heard and considered in governmental decisions, fostering a more inclusive and responsive political environment.

Abrahams highlighted that the evolving political landscape enhanced the potential efficacy of civil society in shaping policy and governance, noting that civil society organisations could now influence State actions more effectively, provided they maintained their independence and continued to operate with transparency and accountability.

“This increased efficacy is vital for holding the government accountable and ensuring that coalition agreements are honoured. Civil society organisations can contribute to more informed and balanced policy-making processes by leveraging their expertise and strategic positioning.”

The key challenge would be to avoid co-optation and maintain a critical, independent stance while engaging constructively with the government, it said.

Abrahams noted that there were some concerns regarding civil society organisations’ involvement with the GNU, saying there were worries that cooperation with the government could compromise civil society's independence and ability to hold it accountable.

She said there were worries that supporting the GNU could be seen as elitist and invite criticism from populist forces, as well as debate about the best approach for civil society.

She highlighted that despite these concerns, this new form of governance presented a significant opportunity for civil society to join together and play a role in enhancing the country’s democracy.