The People Shall Rule

Fellow Citizen,


As local government elections approach, we are reminded of a simple truth: while ideology certainly dominates national debates, local government is about one thing above all else: delivering essential services that sustain and improve people’s daily lives.


Yet too often, this responsibility is overshadowed. 


Political actors, analysts, and the media gravitate toward conflict and spectacle. Unfortunately, that same adversarial energy finds its way into council chambers, after an election, where contention becomes the main game. This, regrettably, is at the expense of cooperation, planning, and delivery of quality services at affordable prices.


South Africa deserves better. Our communities deserve better.


Renew South Africa is taking action.


We are convening a Citizen Conference in August/September to focus local governance on what truly matters: practical, effective service delivery.


At this conference, we will bring together civic leaders, professionals, and technical experts to:


1. Carefully examine the City’s expiring Integrated Development Plan (IDP),


2. Identify omissions, weaknesses, and problems, and


3. Propose realistic, implementable improvements.


The outcome will be a citizen-led, evidence-based “proto IDP.” this will be a practical blueprint that reflects the real needs and priorities of residents.


This initiative does something powerful:

It shifts the conversation from “who governs” to “what must be done.”


By doing so, we can:


1. Encourage cooperation across political lines,


2. Hold elected representatives accountable to clear, citizen-defined priorities, and


3. Equip the incoming council to “hit the ground running” from day one by accelerating the adoption of the new 2027 - 32 IDP,


This is participatory democracy as envisioned in our Constitution. It will no longer be a passive acceptance of a bureaucratic document, but an active shaping of the future by society itself.


Every segment will have ownership of the proto IDP.


To make this possible, we need your support.


Renew South Africa is in the process of registering as a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), which will allow us to issue tax-deductible certificates to donors.


Your contribution will directly support:


1. The Citizen Conference,


2. Research and technical analysis,


3 Public participation processes, and


4. Development and publication of the proto IDP.


We are not building another political platform.


We are building a citizen-driven mechanism for accountability, cooperation, and delivery.


This is a rare opportunity to help reshape how local democracy works in South Africa.


Kind regards


JC Krynauw