In the period 2011/13, Isandla Institute focused on the politics of local governance in an effort to enhance prevailing perspectives on local governance, which tend to be preoccupied with the challenges, weaknesses and opportunities of formal spaces of public participation. The project focused on the three-way interface between state, party and civil society. A key premise underpinning the project was that, albeit in different ways, both the state and political parties tend to posit themselves as the ‘rightful’, if not sole, custodians of citizens’ aspirations and interests. This, combined with a general retreat by civil society organisations/the non-profit local governance sector from what is considered ‘political society’ (in particular the space taken up by political parties) means that the essence and vibrancy of local governance is jeopardised. Project activities included research, roundtables with relevant stakeholders and advocacy.