PARTICIPATION, CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Abstract

In 1994 South Africa became a democracy with a government elected by the people for the people. Citizens taking control of their own lives is a general goal of a democracy. The Constitution (RSA, 1996), the Reconstruction and Development Programme (ANC, 1994) and subsequent policy documents all advocate the importance of participation and the role of civil society in democratising South Africa. South Africa has chosen the path of developmental social welfare as its reformist approach to explaining and overcoming social problems. Crucial to social change is active citizen participation at many different levels that will enable citizens to contribute to the process of change that will then lead to nation-building, reconciliation and reconstruction (Pretorius-Heuchert & Ahmed, 2001:32). The government has committed itself to collaborating with non-governmental organisations as representative organs of civil society and its entire people in the reconstruction and development of the country. The year 2002 has been declared the year of the volunteer. The Africa National Congress has also launched its matsema campaign or voluntary community service programme to empower communities.

Keywords

• civil society
• social work practice
• citizen participation
• the constitution rsa 1996