By creating a neighbourhood WhatsApp group, you can help bring people together and organise around many things. WhatsApp groups allow you to easily communicate with many people in your local area.

Steps for setting up your WhatsApp group

1. Choose the type of group:

   • Decide if you want a closed group where only the admin can post or an open group where everyone can chat. An admin is the person who starts the group. You can also make other people admins, allowing them to add others to the group.

2. Create the group:

   • Open WhatsApp and start a new chat.
   • Select "New Group".
   • Choose contacts from your phone to add to the group.
   • Name your group and click "Create".

3. Make a set of rules for the group:

   • Explain its purpose.
   • Encourage members to be respectful and to share relevant information only.
   • Inform members that they will be removed if they don’t follow the rules.
   • Post and pin these guidelines to your group.

4. Invite members:

   • You can have up to 1,024 members in a group.
   • As an admin, you can invite people by creating a link, even if they are not in your contacts. Be careful, as this link can be shared, letting others join without direct approval.

5. Set up a WhatsApp community (optional):

   • If you expect many people to be part of the group, think about making a WhatsApp community. This allows for up to 50 groups within a community, accommodating up to 5,000 members.
   • In community groups, only admins can post, which makes sure that only messages that are relevant to the group are allowed.

6. Privacy considerations:

   • In community groups, members can hide their contact details from other group members. However, the details will always be visible to admins.
   • In regular groups, all members can see each other’s numbers.

7. Legal considerations:

   • The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) applies to business groups, and you need consent to add members.
   • You don’t need consent for private groups, but members should be able to leave the group easily.

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

How to set up a community group

How to start a WhatsApp group

How to start a residents' association

How to set up a community policing forum

How to set up a neighbourhood watch

How to organise community action

How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.