URBAN AGE CONFERENCE GOVERNING URBAN FUTURES November 2014

Pravin Gordhan Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs , South Africa

Urban leaders’ round table

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REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Building a new Democracy: Transforming Cities:

Minister P Gordhan 15 November 2014

Historical Perspective

“In South Africa racialism is the State doctrine and our people are

putting up a heroic struggle against the tyranny of a racial minority. If

this racial doctrine is going to be tolerated, it must inevitably lead to

vast conflicts and world disaster…”

(Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, 1946) 1

Historical perspective

Historical perspective: Map showing the previous set-up and homelands

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Historical perspective

Post-Apartheid Agenda “Freedom should not be understood to mean leadership positions or even appointments to top positions. It must be understood as the transformation of the lives ordinary people in the hostels and the ghettos; in the squatter camps; on the farms and in the mine compounds”.

(Nelson Mandela, 1994)

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New Democracy: New Constitution

Functions for each sphere outlined in the Constitution

Sections 100, 139, 155 for checks and balances

Legislative provision for assignment of additional functions

Key legislation to transform local government

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Three spheres of government

NATIONAL

LOCAL PROVINCIAL

Principles: Distinctive, Interrelated and Interdependent

Role of local government

Democratic and accountable government.

Provision of services

Promote social and economic development.

Safe and healthy environment.

Promote public participation

Developmental Local Government Local government committed to working with citizens and groups within the community to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs and improve the quality of their lives.

Fiscal System • Equitable share • Conditional grants • Local government own

revenue: property rates, tradeable services

• Dedicated grants to support urbanisation.

Service delivery achievement

Our urban realities

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City of Johannesburg v/s Sau Paulo

Sprawl…..Buffalo City

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Housing pressure & sprawl

“Strength does not come from physical activity. It comes from an indomitable will” (Mahatma Gandhi)

PHASE 2 DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION

National Development Plan: Vision 2030 • Building a capable and

developmental state. • Transforming human

settlements and the national space economy.

• Environmental sustainability. • Promoting accountability and

fighting corruption • Economic infrastructure

Spatial Principles

• Spatial justice, • Spatial efficiency, • Spatial sustainability, • Spatial resilience, • Spatial quality.

Challenges • Weak Governance. • Corruption and rent seeking. • Spatial integration. • Lack of responsiveness to public demands. • Poor financial management. • Poor communication. • Institutional weaknesses.

“Back-to-Basics”

Our Urban Future

Integrated Urban Development Framework: • Access • Inclusive growth, • Spatial transformation • Efficient urban governance.

Key issues going forward

• Inclusive growth, jobs and social justice.

• Balancing needs of rising middle class and the urban poor.

• “Reclaiming the state”. • Politicians and bureaucracy. • Short termism vs long-term

planning.

Key issues going forward • Collaborative planning and

integrated delivery. • Building just cities. • Capacity of the state to

respond. • Private sector and civil

society partnerships. • Balancing independence of

cities versus national goals.

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom”

(Nelson Mandela, 2005)

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