Frequently Asked Questions
Active Citizenship
What is citizenship?
What is a citizen?
Why is active citizenship important in a democracy?
How can citizens participate in a democracy?
How can citizens impact on the law-making process in South Africa?
What is advocacy?
Economic Governance
What is a government budget?
Why is it important to monitor government budgets?
What kind of budget system does South Africa have?
How does the South African government budget work?
What is a budget cycle?
Who should be involved in a government budget process?
What tells you more about a government’s budget performance?
What are the characteristics of a sound government budget system?
What is fiscal transparency?
What is the financial relationship between national, provincial and local government in South Africa?
Elections & Electoral Systems
What is the Independent Electoral Commission?
Who is eligible to vote in South Africa?
What is a “free and fair” election?
HIV/AIDS
How does HIV/Aids impact on democracy in Southern Africa?
How do HIV and AIDS affect governance?
What is good governance in the context of HIV and AIDS?
What are the key HIV and AIDS and governance issues in southern Africa?
Is HIV/Aids a Human Rights issue?
Human Rights
What are some of the documents and instruments protecting Human Rights in Africa?
What are socio-economic; civil and political; cultural and environmental rights?
What are my rights?
What are children’s rights?
Is HIV/Aids a Human Rights issue?
What are human rights in the context of human migration?
What are some important issues related to migration in Southern Africa?
Peace Building & Dialogue
What is conflict?
What is peace building?
What is the difference between 1st ,2nd and 3rd track diplomacy?
What is the difference between mediation, negotiation and dialogue?
Political Governance
What are the fundamental principles of democratic governance?
What is SADC?
What is NEPAD?
What is the African Union?
What is the Pan African Parliament?
What are the different spheres of government (national, provincial, local) in South Africa?
What are the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the State?
What new legislation is being debated in parliament?
How does Parliament function in South Africa?
What are the functions of South Africa’ provincial legislatures?
What is the role of parliamentary committees in South Africa?
Programme Highlight:
Political Information & Monitoring Service programme

The Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) provides insights into the South African legislative process in order to promote an open and accountable executive and strong, independent parliament.

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Bookshelf:

The State of Local Governance in South Africa: What does the Local Governance Barometer tell us?
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