SPEAKERS:

Dr Modjadji Malahlela – CoGTA
Prof. Ivan Turok – HSRC
Prof. Daniel Plaatjies – HSRC
Prof. Modimowabarwa Kanyane – HSRC

Date:  Wednesday, 11 March     Time: 09:30  – 13:30

Venue:    VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

Like most of Africa and other developing countries, South Africa is experiencing continuing urbanisation. By 2050, Africa’s urban population is expected to triple to approximately 1.23 billion people, or 60% of the total population (up from approximately 40% in 2009).

This represents an additional 2.6 billion people, which is more than double the current population of Africa. The United Nations has advised African governments to take ‘early action to position themselves for predominately urban populations’. It estimates that 71.3% of the South African population will live in urban areas by 2030, reaching nearly 80% by 2050.

Data shows that urban centres dominates the country’s economy as cities and large towns produce over 80% of the national gross value added. Therefore, well-managed urbanisation has the potential to provide an environment where people can live and access economic opportunities and, in so doing, to reduce poverty, unemployment and inequality. In cities, the spatial concentration of jobs, people and opportunities enables households to access employment and higher quality public services.

However, urban centres need to improve their performance to optimise the potential for growth, productivity and innovation. This Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) gives more practical meaning to the urban futures vision set out in the NDP through setting out 8 policy levers. The focus of the session will drive on Policy Lever 8: Effective Urban Governance.

The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban

RSVP by 5 March

Cape Town: Jean Witten (021) 466  8004, jwitten@hsrc.ac.za  12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za   1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor
Pretoria:  Charmaine Galante  (012) 302 2730  1st  Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria