SA Cities Network

ALL-OF-SOCIETY TO ADDRESS URBAN GOVERNANCE ISSUES, HIGHLIGHTS SACN’S 2021 STATE OF CITIES REPORT

Now in its fifth edition, the South African Cities Network (SACN)’s State of Cities Report 2021 (SoCR) has been released and, overall, strongly points to the need for a whole-of-government and all-ofsociety approach to address rampant urban governance issues, many exasperated by recent emergencies in the financial, health, corruption and climate environments that each require swift, integrated and effective governance.

The SoCR is a yardstick report that has been published since 2004. Previous editions have focused on how cities can be drivers of social change, that apartheid has remained largely unchanged, that cities are resilient but face key pressures and that they have been effective drivers of local and national development. The 2021 Report builds on each of these themes, continuing the journey by applying a governance lens to diagnose progress made towards achieving productive, inclusive, sustainable and spatially transformed cities – while demonstrating how all actors across society, from civil society, business, government, and citizens must work together to address ongoing issues at the city level.

“This is because by 2050 the South African population is expected to grow by 9 – 24 million people, many of whom will live in cities or towns. Given cities are crucial for global development, their performance in delivering basic services and positive development outcomes is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of their citizens, regions, countries and the world,” says Sithole Mbanga, CEO of The South African Cities Network.

The 9 cities that the SoCR analyses are Buffalo City, Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, eThekwini, Johannesburg, Mangaung, Nelson Mandela Bay, Msunduzi and Tshwane. The report’s insights per city pertain to people and households, the economy, social fabric, sustainability, city finance, service delivery, citizen engagement and transport.

“In order for cities to meet their objectives of becoming more economically and socially inclusive, sustainable and spatially transformed, a whole-of-government and all-ofsociety approach is required. This as South African cities have made little progress in achieving key development outcomes,” comments Mbanga.

Governing South African Cities

Governing cities and towns is complex and challenging as it has to respond to globalisation and its many crises: climate change, inequality, political instability, terrorism, migration, social polarisation and pandemics. Yet defendable global development and prosperity are reliant on the sustainability of the world’s cities and this depends on how well cities are governed.

Local government’s funding bases need to be broadened, and resources for strategic projects and community assistance must not be consumed by operating costs. “A pursuit of all-ofsociety partnerships is essential for cities to make the most of the funding they do have. Urban autonomy is not achieved through delegation, funding and intergovernmental arrangements alone and there is a need for a new approach to urban governance and a renewed look at urban structures,” says Mbanga.

Productive Cities

Inclusive growth in cities is of utmost importance and cities have the ability to address historical economic constraints. But while cities are key drivers of productivity, economic gains are not always evenly distributed and many South Africans are still excluded from participating and benefitting meaningfully. Job opportunities have not always been constant and many cities have experienced “jobless growth”, resulting in poor, disadvantaged citizens being excluded from benefitting in improved GDP. The majority of people remain susceptible to precarious income generation and skills development opportunities, which prevents them from accessing the formal economy and all of its benefits.

Furthermore, the shock of Covid-19 exposed the economy’s fragility.

To address this, economic actors need to come together to improve a city’s economy and foster economic inclusion. This requires an understanding of the importance of an all-of-society approach. These same actors need to better cooperate to understand city economies through cooperative structures associated with economic development levers. “This is crucial to facilitate economic growth, inclusion and redress,” says Mbanga.

Inclusive Cities

Inclusivity and wellbeing are critical for cities’ sustainability, as it leads to a better quality of life for city dwellers. Yet not much progress has been made towards enabling inclusivity in our cities through places that all people, including the marginalised, can own. Decades after apartheid, many urban dwellers remain socially, spatially and economically excluded. This has been deepened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fortunately there are pockets of excellence where an all-of-society approach and cooperation among government spheres has made their cities more inclusive. They are making cities safer, involve the youth in urban processes, and are improving informal settlements’ living conditions while creating better public spaces. Other cities are urged to follow in their footsteps as there is a general lack of progress in making and managing more inclusive spaces. This is in part due to local governance structures that are constrained in terms of devolution, transversal management and intergovernmental relations. Conflict among communities and stakeholders also exist and to change the status quo will require a wholeof-government and all-of-society approach, including the participation among government spheres, public agencies and other sectors of society.

Sustainable Cities

Enabling a just urban transition through cooperative governance and an all-of-society approach to tackle issues of sustainability are essential. In order for cities to meet this growing challenge that affects all its residents, but specifically those living on the outskirts of our cities, partnerships are needed that enable knowledgesharing and cooperation (for energy, water and waste).

“While national policy frameworks and city-level strategies are being adopted - which goes some way to demonstrate cities’ commitment to a just urban transition - despite all the efforts made, the practical challenges associated with this shift have not been fully grasped. Stakeholders across sectors of society need to formulate a shared value proposition to achieve great change,” says Mbanga.

South African cities face a triple challenge: responses to environmental issues, deepening socioeconomic inequalities espoused by the Covid-19 pandemic and a new mode of cooperative government that can navigate the complexities of cities in the information age. Addressing this requires cooperative governance, codes and practices, partnerships and integrated infrastructure plans.

Spatially Trapped

Addressing spatial transformation in our cities is among our key needs, yet its success depends on the governance capacity of the municipal institution. Internal municipal environments can hinder or harness equitable spatial outcomes, and the structural forces in municipalities share the behaviours of practitioners which negatively affect spatial transformation goals. These structural forces are both formal (legislative) and informal (institutional norms and power dynamics) and impact intergovernmental cooperation, community partnerships and longterm meaningful engagement.

To attain greater spatial inclusion/ transformation in our cities requires a shift in these structural forces. This includes the measurement and reward of intergovernmental cooperation, the review of legislation and regulations, the improvement of the political-administrative interface, building capacity and learning and integrating social facilitation skills.

“Cities that adopt new ways of thinking will see the dawn before others do and choices made now will affect generations to come. South African cities have the potential to be beacons for cities across the globe in managing future challenges that cities will face.

“Municipalities must also be given adequate representation in all national and provincial strategy sessions and party conferences, as well as specific planning and budgeting sessions. Local government has a substantial role to play in reshaping the future of our cities, and responding to challenges as they emerge. Cities also need to recognise that citizens are their greatest resource and that they need to put themselves at the centre of discussions and policy,” concludes Mbanga.