South African Cities Network

URL: http://www.sacities.net/index.html

The South African Cities Network is:

• An established network of South African cities and partners that encourages the exchange of information, experience and best practices on urban development and city management.
• An initiative of the Minister for Provincial and Local Government and nine city municipalities, in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
• The goals of the SA Cities Network are to:
• Promote good governance and management of South African cities.
  • Analyse strategic challenges facing South African cities, particularly in the context of global economic integration and national development.
  • Collect, collate, analyse, assess, disseminate and apply the experience of large city government in a South African context.
  • Promote a shared-learning partnership between different spheres of government to support the governance of South African cities.

The activities of the SA Cities Network are designed to:

• Update leaders on current and emerging changes and trends in urban policy across the world and in South Africa.
• Promote innovation and strategic thinking between cities and other spheres of government.
• Foster cooperation and exchange of best practice. Generate options and make recommendations to Network members.
• Mobilise the capacity of cities to support local government and national development.
• Strengthen linkages between cities, towns and rural areas.

Scope of work

• Within the context of developmental local government and integrated governance, the SA Cities Network focuses on the full scope of the urban management process. This includes promoting sustainable cities, economic growth and poverty reduction, urban renewal, good governance, integrated land management and service delivery and city development strategies.

Thematic focus areas

• City Development Strategy
• Productive Cities Strategy
• Inclusive Cities Strategy
• Well Governed Cities
• Sustainable Cities

Functional focus areas

The SACN focuses its support on the following:

• Strategic guidance
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Technical assistance

Instruments for exchange and networking

• Peer review
• Joint research
• Newsletter
• Quick briefs and special reports
• Seminars, workshops and training
• Study tours, placements and exchanges
• Documentation of best practices and innovations
• Calendar of activities and events
• Electronic data base
• Thematic working groups

Members

• Buffalo City (East London)
• City of Cape Town
• Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (East Rand)
• City of eThekwini (Durban)
• City of Johannesburg
• Mangaung Municipality (Bloemfontein)
• Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg)
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality (Port Elizabeth)
• City of Tshwane (Pretoria)

Partners

• South African Local Government Association (SALGA)
• Department of Provincial and Local Government
• Department of Trade and Industry
• Regional and global networks dealing with city and urban issues
• Non-governmental organisations
• Private sector organisations
• Universities and research institutes

Governance and organisational structure

• The South African Cities Network Company is a non-profit voluntary organisation owned by and accountable to its members.
• Board of Directors: chaired by representatives of the minister of DPLG and composed of representatives of member cities, SALGA and DPLG.
• The Cities Network has established a Secretariat based on the 16th Floor, Visitors and Information Center, Johannesburg Metropolitan Council.