In terms of specific longer term projects to facilitate engagement between communities and government, Planact has been providing support to the community of Orlando East also extended to the neighbouring Noordgesig area since early 2007. This project was included as part of the broader capacity building programme for participatory local governance in urban development processes. Planact’s support focused on social facilitation to enhance public participation in development initiatives in the area initially motivated by 2010 World Cup developments. This involved organizational development, strategic planning and monitoring support, and facilitating engagements between the community and development officials for information sharing and ensuring community input into development planning; and an action research component to monitor and improve public participation in the project. The process of engagement brought together a range of community based organizations including political parties, ward committee members and councillors, community development workers, faith based organizations, and local business entities under an umbrella body – the Community Development Committee (CDC) – established in 2008 to better coordinate public participation in government and other development initiatives in the area. Various sub-committees were also established focusing on local economic development; tourism and heritage; housing opportunities; and community events and campaigns. A community workshop brought various government departments to the area to present their plans for the community. Planact provided further support for long term strategic planning workshops for the CDC and a process of ward based planning with support from the Good Governance Learning Network which assisted community members to provide input into the Urban Development Framework (UDF) for the area.

Through the structure of the CDC, the community of Orlando was also invited to make input into the City of Johannesburg’s by-laws process for 2010. The CDC continues to be supported in terms of strategic planning and capacity development in terms of finalising the constitution, defining its organizational structure and embarking on project initiatives including the development of a tourist route, a skills development centre, cleaning campaigns and youth development projects. Planact is in the process of investigating the possibility of supporting other communities through similar longer term engagement to enhance public participation in governance.