Delivering democratic developmental state cities in South Africa

Since coming to power in 1994, following the end of formal apartheid in South Africa, the governing African National Congress (ANC), has stated its ambition to establish inclusive local governance, which is both democratic and developmental. The governing African National Congress has attempted to fashion a democratic developmental state at the national level. At the local government level, many ANC-led municipal and metro governments have attempted to create democratic developmental cities. South Africa's national constitution makes a case for democratic and developmental local governance. Key local government laws, policies and strategies provide the governance framework to deliver democratic and developmental local governance. Together, the constitution and the overarching local governance frameworks lay the basis for the forging of democratic developmental states at the local government level. This article will look at the progress made at establishing democratic and developmental local government in South Africa, specifically the attempts to create democratic developmental state cities. It will do so by looking specifically at local governance at the metropolitan cities. It measures success against progress made as outlined in the national constitution and key local governance laws, policies and strategies. It looks at strategic challenges and provides some recommendations for consideration to deepen democratic and developmental local governance in South Africa.