SAnews reports on the platform that will allow members of the public to contact politically-connected officials via WhatsApp.

The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) shares news on its work on electrification provision in Slovo Park, its participation in a panel discussion on housing struggles and land occupations, and a court case dealing with price reservation for repossessed homes. 

Ikhayalami provides an update on progress with its current projects: Empowershack, the participative digital planning tool and AT Section re-blocking. Its work will also be showcased at an exhibition at the headquarters of the Inter American Development Bank. The exhibition is set to travel to five countries in South America before potentially travelling to Africa and Asia.

On the 20^th of September 2018, Isandla Institute hosted the second and final Local Community of Practice of the year. Local community of practice meetings provide opportunities for NGOs in Cape Town, working in and on informal settlement upgrading, to reflect on the work they are doing, share their practices with other organisations, and learn from each other to strengthen and improve their organisational practices.

Written by Ryan Fester, the Development Action Group's contribution to the 2018 State of Local Governance publication takes the form of an In Profile submission. It reflects on the specific challenges civic organisations face when aiming to effectively engage in participatory processes, and, given these challenges, the strategies and tactics they have resorted to in an effort to hold government accountable. It also briefly proposes a new model of participation for civic organisations.

As part of the 2018 State of Local Governance publication, Dullah Omar Institute's Jaap de Visser offers five suggestions to fix local government.

The 2018 State of Local Governance (SoLG) publication was launched on 29 August 2018 in Cape Town. The event, held at the Park Inn by Radisson in Newlands, was well-attended and received by over 40 representatives from civil society, academia and government concerned with and working on local governance in South Africa.

The 2018 State of Local Governance (SoLG) has been published and is available in electronic and hardcopy format.

Planact's film, Budgeting For Change, has been selected as one of Discovery Channel's ‘Don’t Stop Wondering’ category Top 10 at the Jozi Film Festival 2018.

Fin24 reports on Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zweli Mkhize's briefing to Parliament's Standing Commitee on Public Accounts on municipalities' Eskom debt.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Deputy Minister, Andries Nel, says by end of 2018, all distressed municipalities will be supported by dedicated teams.

Written by Planact, the seventh paper in the 2017 State of Local Governance publication discusses the role of collaboration in social accountability mechanisms using a case study on a social audit conducted in Emalahleni Local Municipality.