On 14 August 2026, ACCORD hosted the second quarterly Community Peace Action and Advocacy Dialogue at a local community hall in Isipingo, eThekwini. This dialogue aimed to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in local governance and peacebuilding by providing a platform to discuss barriers, engage relevant stakeholders, share experiences and identify practical solutions for greater inclusion and community engagement.
Building on the first community dialogue held in KwaMashu in May 2026 and continued mentorship and support, the dialogue marked an important transition from capacity-building towards practical civic participation and community advocacy. The dialogue brought together community leaders, members of women’s forums and ward representatives from the communities of Isipingo, Umlazi and KwaMashu to reflect on local governance, community safety and women’s participation in decision-making ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. Participants explored how women leaders can strengthen their engagement with local governance structures, raise community priorities and contribute to peaceful and inclusive local governance.
During breakout sessions, participants identified issues such as unemployment, substance abuse, youth vulnerability, inadequate health and education services and community safety as key concerns affecting local communities. Building on these discussions, participants proposed practical solutions to tackle these issues, including strengthening skills development and training pathways to better equip graduates for employment, supporting local agricultural initiatives, expanding youth diversion activities, promoting digital literacy and strengthening collaboration between community forums, South African Police Services (SAPS) and local residents.
Participants further assessed existing ward-level structures to identify clear pathways for escalating and addressing community priorities. Discussions highlighted the important role played by Ward Committees and War Rooms established under Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS) in ensuring that community concerns are effectively communicated, escalated and addressed through relevant local structures.
The dialogue concluded with a set of recommendations to strengthen women’s participation in local governance and community safety, including stronger links with Community Policing Forums (CPF) and SAPS, greater representation in community structures, and improved engagement with municipal and security stakeholders.
The dialogue demonstrated the importance of creating spaces where women leaders and community representatives can collectively identify challenges, engage institutions and develop practical solutions. By strengthening women’s civic participation and connections with local governance structures, the initiative seeks to contribute to more inclusive, responsive and peaceful local governance in eThekwini.
This Dialogue forms part of the ongoing Strengthening Women’s Leadership for Inclusive Peacebuilding in eThekwini programme, implemented in partnership with AgendaGL.
ACCORD continues to strengthen the capacity of women as leaders and peacebuilders in their communities, this in line with the institution’s strategic objectives to enhance the role of women to prevent, mitigate and resolve complex conflicts.
