CPD1501
Assignment 2
Semester 2
Due 17 September 2025
, CPD1501 - Citizenship, Public Participation and Democracy
Compulsory Assignment 02
Semester 2
Due: Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 6:00 PM
1 QUESTION 1 (15 marks)
Analyse a recent event or policy in South Africa where public participation played
a key role in shaping democratic outcomes.
Answer (structured analysis):
1. Background / facts.
In Corruption Watch (RF) NPC v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others
the Constitutional Court (1 August 2025) found that Parliament failed to facilitate
a reasonable process of public participation in recommending people for
appointment to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE). The Court declared
the appointments of five commissioners (effective 1 March 2023) invalid.
(Corruption Watch v Speaker 2025).
2. What was defective about the participation process?.
Corruption Watch contended that the National Assembly provided inadequate
information about shortlisted candidates, allowed only 14 days for public
submissions, and restricted written submissions to a 2 000-character online form
measures that materially limited meaningful public involvement. The
Constitutional Court accepted these complaints and found the process fell short
of the constitutional obligation to facilitate reasonable public involvement.
(ConCourt; Corruption Watch).
3. How public participation (and civil society litigation) shaped the democratic
outcome.
The active participation of civil society (Corruption Watch) using litigation as a
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Assignment 2
Semester 2
Due 17 September 2025
, CPD1501 - Citizenship, Public Participation and Democracy
Compulsory Assignment 02
Semester 2
Due: Wednesday, 17 September 2025, 6:00 PM
1 QUESTION 1 (15 marks)
Analyse a recent event or policy in South Africa where public participation played
a key role in shaping democratic outcomes.
Answer (structured analysis):
1. Background / facts.
In Corruption Watch (RF) NPC v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others
the Constitutional Court (1 August 2025) found that Parliament failed to facilitate
a reasonable process of public participation in recommending people for
appointment to the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE). The Court declared
the appointments of five commissioners (effective 1 March 2023) invalid.
(Corruption Watch v Speaker 2025).
2. What was defective about the participation process?.
Corruption Watch contended that the National Assembly provided inadequate
information about shortlisted candidates, allowed only 14 days for public
submissions, and restricted written submissions to a 2 000-character online form
measures that materially limited meaningful public involvement. The
Constitutional Court accepted these complaints and found the process fell short
of the constitutional obligation to facilitate reasonable public involvement.
(ConCourt; Corruption Watch).
3. How public participation (and civil society litigation) shaped the democratic
outcome.
The active participation of civil society (Corruption Watch) using litigation as a
1|Page
