South Africa’s democracy continues to face deep inequalities, low public trust, and increasingly complex policy challenges, especially around climate change. Existing participation processes have often failed to engage people meaningfully across language, income, and historical divides. Citizens’ Assembly - where a carefully selected, demographically representative group of residents deliberate on key policy issues, offer a proven and flexible approach to improving democratic legitimacy and supporting fairer, more informed policy decisions.
The inaugural assembly in Western Cape still in its early planning stage, will bring together academic partners, government, and civil society. This initiative aims to design South Africa’s first pilot Citizens’ Assembly on climate resilience and adaptation in the city of Cape Town. It forms part of a growing continental and global effort to strengthen democracy through inclusive, well-structured, and evidence-based public participation.
The Assembly is being designed to represent the demographic diversity of the city of Cape Town, and questions discussed by those selected will cover transport, heat mitigation, water security, and flooding resilience, all key topics for the region of Western Cape and its citizens. In the early 2026, the team working on the project will recruit a facilitator, finalise the sortition strategy and establish the operational guide on how the Assembly will be conducted. The Citizen’s Assembly in Cape Town will begin in August 2026, with final recommendations to be presented before November 2026.
“We are grateful for the support of the Future Fund, as well as the commitment of our partners, which has enabled us to turn nearly eighteen months of research and planning into action. As we move towards hosting South Africa’s first Climate Citizens’ Assembly, we are adapting a proven model of democratic innovation to Cape Town’s context and placing citizens at the centre of climate conversations that shape their lives. At a time when democracies must respond to complex and urgent challenges, this project reflects a commitment to renewing democratic practice so that it remains inclusive, responsive, and fit for the realities of our time.”
Kira Alberts, Research Coordinator, Centre for Research on Democracy, Stellenbosch University ,“We are excited about preparing for a first South African Citizens’ Assembly as we believe in the idea of consultation and responding to our citizens. Our Global South context presents its own unique set of challenges, but the project partners are committed to making it work and learning lessons along the way that will benefit similar initiatives in future.”
Goosain Isaacs, Director: Climate Change, Western Cape Provincial Government ,“The government of Western Cape remains a proactive and valuable member of the Under2 Coalition. This innovative initiative places communities at the heart of the province’s climate discourse. We’re proud to support South Africa’s first Citizens Assembly.”
Jebi Rahman, Head of Global Implementation, Climate Group