Distrust between citizens and their leaders, as well as between employers and employees has deepened over the past decade. Community protests, petitions and public marches are evidence of citizen engagement and suggest their strong desire to claim space for political expression, democratic engagement and recognition for their concerns. Protests have sometimes turned violent, resulting in damage to property and loss of life. Governments should see it as an opportunity to win back the public’s trust by fulfilling their mandate of service delivery excellence, creating constructive platforms for communities to express their views and implementing meaningful results. Among many factors driving scepticism is the perception that government projects have limited effect. There is little transparency to understand the successes and failures, and few processes to initiate remedial action. To combat this perception governments should prioritise service delivery. A delivery-focused approach can ...

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