Here is a list of ways that you can participate and influence decision making:

• Vote in elections
• Participate in party politics
• Organise, support and hold public demonstrations and campaigns
• Petition local, provincial and national leaders
• Lobby decision-makers (e.g. a municipal councillor, mayor, speaker, member of parliament or senior government official e.g. municipal manager, and participate in decision-making processes, such as public hearings or public consultation meetings)
• Engage with ward committees, intergovernmental meetings, budget, IDP and local consultative meetings at a local government level. Use these to hold local councillors accountable and participate in policy formulation and implementation planning
• Make written or verbal submissions to council committees

(See: Checklist: Making a Written and Verbal Submission)

• Print and distribute leaflets to the public
• Use local radio and tv stations, or social media networks e.g. Facebook and Twitter to spread your message
• Refer complaints to appropriate institutions like the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Commission on Gender Equity, the Public Protector, Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID) for police issues
• People can also lobby constituency representatives of statutory institutions, such as the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), South African National Aids Council (SANAC) and other structures that encourage public participation

Voting in elections and lobbying are two of the most important ways of participating in decision-making processes.