cities

Informed by five years of research and engagement within the local government sector, the chapters
aim to summarise the key insights and messages about whether and how cities are driving local and
national development.
Chapter 1 introduces the key trends, dynamics and concepts related to the theme, “South
African cities as effective drivers of local and national development”.
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Chapter 2 defines better the imperative for Spatial Transformation, by examining the practical
role of space and the built environment in urban development.
Chapter 3, Productive Cities, assesses and then discusses how cities can deliver effectively on
both growth and economic inclusion (supporting livelihoods).
Chapter 4, Inclusive Cities, looks at how cities can better enhance local resilience and reduce
inequality.
Chapter 5, Sustainable Cities, explores how cities can develop in a way that is in balance with
natural resource realities and planetary limits.
Chapter 6, Well-Governed Cities, assesses whether city governance systems are – or could be
– capable, effective and accountable.
Chapter 7, Finance and Innovation, asks how sustainable municipal financing can be achieved
in a context where there is not enough money to go around.
Chapter Eight, Enabling Environment, concludes with a call for action to all urban actors whose
commitments will be necessary to ensure innovative, dynamic city economies and livelihoods.
The annexed sections that follow thereafter present:
Brief individual city reports that highlight key city progress indicators and flagship programmes of the
cities, and the data Almanac section, which explains where and how the report data can be found and
used.
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