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Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 17:00

South African Cities Network

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South African Cities Network

We are a network of South African cities and partners that promotes knowledge sharing, experience, and best practices in urban development and city governance.
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We are a network of South African cities and partners that promotes knowledge sharing, experience, and best practices in urban development and city governance. 🇿🇦 🏙👌 Established in 2002 as an urban think tank to foster collaboration among cities and facilitate knowledge sharing, the SACN operates at the nexus of urban policy, governance, and socio-economic development (SACN, 2021). However, South

Africa’s political environment is complex and coloured by unpredictable and volatile governance dynamics, policy changes, and socio-political challenges. This trend has persisted for a long time and significantly influences the strategic and performative imperatives of the SACN.

10/09/2026

What does it take to transform the way a city works?

Building infrastructure is only part of the answer.

Johannesburg's Bus Rapid Transit system offers an important case study in how transport, spatial planning and urban governance intersect.

In the Urban Governance Paper Series Vol. 1, Jesse Harber explores what the BRT experience tells us about building the institutional capacity needed to govern and transform urban space.

As we think about the future of South African cities, one question remains important:

How do we build the capacity to turn ambitious urban plans into meaningful change?

🎥 Watch: *Building Capacity for the Governance of Space: The Case of the City of Johannesburg's BRT*

04/09/2026

What kind of urban future are we preparing for? 🌍

As South Africa marks 25 years of democratic local government, it is a good time to reflect on how far our cities have come, but also to ask: what might the future hold?

As part of the development of the 6th State of South African Cities Report (SoCR VI), South African Cities Network, in partnership with the Tayarisha Centre for Digital Governance at Wits - University of the Witwatersrand, brought together a diverse group of voices for a three-day National Futures Conference this week.

This closed working session brought representatives from the National Departments: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the National Department of Human Settlements, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), cities, academia, civil society, the private sector and futures practice together to explore the forces, uncertainties and possibilities that could shape South Africa’s cities.

The goal was not to predict one future. Instead, the conversations focused on understanding the different futures that could emerge, challenging assumptions and thinking about how the choices we make today could influence the cities of tomorrow.

The insights from the conference will contribute to SoCR VI, which is due to launch in April 2027.

The conversation about our urban future has only just begun.
What kind of cities do we want to be ready for?

Watch this space.

02/09/2026

Did You Know?

Urban intelligence and Foresight help cities understand challenges, identify opportunities and plan for the future.

Through research, data, and learning, SACN helps municipalities make evidence-based decisions that improve residents' lives.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3SFwxzS

01/09/2026

🌱 Happy Spring Day!

Spring is a time of renewal, growth and new possibilities. Our cities are constantly changing too.

As communities grow, economies evolve, and new urban challenges emerge, cities need to learn, adapt, and plan for the future.

At SACN, we believe that better decisions start with better knowledge. Through urban intelligence, foresight, learning, and collaboration, we help cities navigate change and build more inclusive, resilient, and productive urban futures.

Let us grow cities that are ready for what comes next. 🌱🏙️

26/08/2026

🌇 A new strategic direction for SACN.

As South Africa's cities continue to face complex, evolving challenges, SACN is entering a new five-year strategic chapter.

Our Strategic Business Plan 2026–2031 is guided by five strategic priorities:

🔹 Urban Intelligence and Foresight
🔹 Learning Ecosystems and Practice Adoption
🔹 City Advocacy for the Urban Agenda
🔹 Partnerships for Value Creation
🔹 Agile and Sustainable Organisation

Together, these priorities will guide how we generate knowledge, support learning, strengthen collaboration and create greater value for South African cities.

More info at: www.sacities.net/our-strategy

20/08/2026

The latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) data from Statistics South Africa reveals a widening divergence across South Africa's major metropolitan areas. While national headline unemployment worsened to 33.6% in Q2 2026, local dynamic shifts across metros paint a complex picture of regional economic performance.

💡Key Highlights:
1️⃣Tshwane registered the greatest improvement among metros, cutting unemployment by 2.6 percentage points to 34.2%.

2️⃣eThekwini continued to strengthen, lowering its rate by 1.1 percentage points to 21.2%—the lowest overall rate among all major metros for Q2.

3️⃣Cape Town saw a slight uptick (+0.5 p.p. to 21.9%), maintaining a structurally lower rate relative to the broader national average.

What local economic factors or sector performance are driving these shifts in your metro? Share your thoughts below! 👇

19/08/2026

A new chapter begins.

SACN's Strategic Business Plan 2026–2031 sets out our vision for supporting South African cities through knowledge, learning and collaboration.

Follow us throughout the month as we unpack the key priorities guiding our work over the next five years.

Read it here: https://bit.ly/3ShBQFu

13/08/2026

🏙️ The city no longer stops at the municipal boundary.

Across South Africa, people live, work, travel and access opportunities across municipal boundaries. Labour markets, transport networks, infrastructure, housing and economic activity increasingly connect cities and surrounding municipalities.

This is why understanding city-regions and the role of Intermediate City Municipalities (ICMs) is becoming increasingly important.

SACN’s new strategic direction recognises this changing urban reality. While 39 ICMs are recognised nationally, SACN will initially focus its support on seven strategically important municipalities: Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Msunduzi, KwaDukuza, Rustenburg, eMalahleni and uMhlathuze.

The question is no longer simply how individual municipalities can respond to urban growth. It is how cities and municipalities can work together across boundaries to strengthen infrastructure, service delivery, economic development and resilience.

📖 Read the full blog by Yasmin Coovadia, Executive Manager: Programmes, and explore what a city-region approach could mean for South Africa’s urban future:

https://sacities.net/2026/07/01/blog-city-regions-and-intermediate-city-municipalities-are-home-to-millions-of-south-africans/

09/08/2026

Today, we honour the courage, resilience & leadership of women across South Africa as we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings.

Their legacy continues to inspire the pursuit of equality, dignity and justice for all.

Address

Menlyn Corporate Park, Block B, 175 Corobay Avenue, Cnt Garsfontein And Corobay, Waterkloof Glen, Ext. 11
Johannesburg
0001

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27114076471

Website

https://linktr.ee/SACitiesNetwork

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