26/05/2026
Citizens want to engage with government, yet 84% of South Africans have never participated in legislative processes. Despite constitutional mandates for public participation, the disconnect between citizens and the state remains a critical challenge to democratic governance.
Marcus Hollington, Sikhumbuzo Tshabalala & Noeleen Turdon will address this at the Southern African Marketing Research Association NPC (SAMRA) Annual Conference 2026 with their session: Enhancing Public Participation in South Africa - Bridging the Gap Between Citizens and the State. Using a comprehensive mixed-methods approach combining nationwide surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews, they examined participation patterns across diverse demographics and identified institutional barriers. The results reveal "Silent Disconnection". While 32% of citizens know how to participate, only half actually engage, and 62% feel their concerns are not taken seriously by legislatures.
The study exposes that those who receive feedback from legislatures are significantly more likely to participate, yet 72% of South Africans report never receiving any response from their local legislature, highlighting a fundamental breakdown in democratic communication that traditional civic education alone cannot solve.
