Civil society organisations will have much influence in the country's African Peer Review process with a cross section of organisation represented in the APRM Governing Council. Chairperson of Public Service Commission Stan Sangweni yesterday announced representatives of the Council during the conclusion of the APRM national consultative conference.

The Governing Council is tasked with implementing the peer review process in the country.

The APRM is a voluntary self-monitoring tool that was agreed to by the African Union and the Government Implementation Committee of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad).

The comprehensive review focuses on democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance and socio-economic development.

The council comprises five government and 10 civil society representatives, thus allowing sectors from civil society much influence in the drafting of the country's review report. Chairperson of the Council, Geraldine Fraser- Moleketi said after the conference she hoped representatives would ask "how can we use democracy as an enabling environment to ensure that every South African benefits."

On the issue of the questionnaire, which is used to test public's views on service delivery, the Public Services and Administration Minister said the questionnaire had been simplified and had been translated into five languages.

Civil society representatives criticized the questionnaire at the conference, saying that it's not accessible and too compound for the ordinary person on the street to understand.

"We are hoping to translate the questionnaire to all 11 languages," committed the minister. Fraser- Moleketi added that every one would have direct input into the council through the Secretariat, which would be providing support services required by the Council.

Prof Sangweni said the Council would meet its nine month timeframe suggested by the APRM Imminent Persons.

"The Governing Council needs to play an oversight and accountability role but not in a hands-off kind of way. It will have to be an active, working structure rather than a ceremonial one," said Sangweni.

Fraser-Moleketi said she was hoping for the peer review process to "get the country talking." - BuaNews