Review of Study Tour to KZN and North West; Report Back on World Summit on Sustainable Development

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Meeting report

HOUSING PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
18 September 2002
REVIEW OF STUDY TOUR TO KZN & NORTH WEST; REPORT BACK ON WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


Chairperson: Ms Z Kota (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Report on WSSD (Appendix 1)
Paper on the Roundtable on Sustainable African Cities (WSSD) (Appendix 2)
Paper on the strengthening of Local Government (WSSD) (Appendix 3)
Paper on the Global Alliance for Building Sustainability (Appendix 4)

SUMMARY
Members who attended the Summit on Sustainable Development gave a brief report on the proceedings and decisions that were made on the issue of human settlement. On the review of the study tour to Kwazulu-Natal and North West Province it was felt that both MEC's should be invited to address the Committee.

MINUTES
The Chairperson reported to the Committee that the human settlement meeting was addressed by Ministers of Housing from Senegal, Nigeria and Egypt, on the different approaches to the housing crisis engulfing the continent. The theme of the meeting was Partnership for Sustainable African Cities. There was a hot debate around NEPAD particularly the issue of Zimbabwe delegates who felt that South Africa was not doing enough in engaging the Government of Zimbabwe. The issue of urbanization was also high on the agenda of the meeting.

Ms J A Semple (DP) said that as one of the Members of the Portfolio Committee who attended the summit her particular interest was tourism. She looked at issues such as sanitation and water focusing specifically on Africa and was very impressed by the solar heating of the Ubuntu Village.

Mr B Dhlamini (IFP) said there was a general agreement around the world that 50% of its population lived in the urban areas but in Brazil the opposite prevailed. He stressed the fact that African solutions must be found for African problems more especially in urban areas. He told the meeting that some of their counterparts in Africa had challenged the South African government on a number is contentious issues.

The Chairperson said South Africa was focussing on water and sanitation because the two could not be separated.

Ms Semple said it was agreed that by the year 2015 that the number of people without access to water would be halved.

The Chairperson informed Members that the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, members of the Provincial Legislatures and the Department of Housing were going to be invited by the Portfolio Committee to a joint meeting on issues of clean water and sanitation.

Mr Dhlamini said it was important to have a workshop on Agenda 21 and Human Settlement .

The Chairperson said the report on KZN and North West did not address problems in those areas. She suggested that both MEC'S should be invited to address the Committee.

Mr C B Herandien (NNP) said it had been reported that there were buildings in KZN that were vandalized daily and suggested that the Chairperson of the Committee should get into contact with the Local Government to assess the damage.

The Chairperson said as members were going to their respective constituencies, members from KZN needed to focus on this issue or perhaps Ms Buthelezi could visit the affected area.

Ms M N Buthelezi said most of the affected people were actually not residing at KZN but were only working there. KZN cabinet had decided to reallocate the houses to those on the waiting list.

Mr. Dhlamini said after the factories had been closed in the affected area people left their homes. In terms of the Housing Act the houses could not be transferred to other people.

The Chairperson informed the Committee about a place in the NorthWest called Stinkwater where people had no access to the minimum water entitled to them. They bought water from a nearby school which was totally unacceptable. She further told the committee that a workshop on Agenda 21 would be held over one day and the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Energy would be invited.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix 1
WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

I attended the WSSD from the 26th August to the 4 September 2002. On the 27th we went for registration in Nasrec and also in Sandton.

On the 28fh we participated at UN - Habitat/South African Ministry of Housing Roundtable at Crown Plaza in Sandton, the theme was Partnerships for Sustainable African Cities. There were four Members of the Portfolio Committee who were accredited to participate on behalf of the Committee. The roundtable was hosted by the department of Housing under the leadership of Hon. Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele.

It was clear that all speakers were addressing the issue of fast growing urbanisation within African cities. There were presentations made by the following speakers: Mr Amos Masondo, Executive Mayor of Jhb; the Minister of Housing in South Africa, Ms Anna Tibaijuka; Executive director of UN Habitat, Minister Sidney Mufamadi as well as by Habitat Minister from Nigeria, Senegal and Egypt.

We also attended the UN Habitat event on Sustainable Urbanisation, there were a number of stalls displaying progress made in provision of houses to the homeless South Africans and other communities across the Globe. This was in Ubuntu Village.

On the 29th and 30th of August, 25 members of Parliament attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union at Sandton Sun Hotel. It was said to be a joint IPUlSouth African Parliamentary Meeting.

The opening ceremony of the Parliamentary meeting consisted of statements by the Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Dr Frene Ginwala; the Secretary General of the World Summit on Sustainable development, Mr Nitin besai; the President of Council of the Inter Parliamentary Union, Najma Heptulla and the Minister if Environmental Affairs & Tourism, Mr Valli Moosa.
This was followed by four consecutive panel discussions on the following 4 themes:

· Role of Parliaments in ensuring implementations and compliance with reporting requirements.
· Sustainable development - the basis of Human Security;
· Improving the International framework for Sustainable Development;
· New Partnership (NEPAD) and other new forms of partnership for development.

Our delegation participated in all these debates and members were well prepared.

At the end of the proceedings, the meeting adopted a brief declaration to the World Summit. We improved on the draft presented earlier on "Toward Sustainability" - implementing Agenda
21.

recommendations:
I propose that Parliament should have a debate on the WSSD. We do need implementation monitoring mechanism of agreements and MOU's and to ensure that the WSSD is taken to all relevant stakeholders.

Compiled by Zou Kota, Chairperson: Housing Portfolio Committee.

Appendix 2
27 August 2002
Source: Ministry of Housing
Title: Mthembi-Mahanyele: Round-table on Sustainable African Cities


KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF HOUSING, SANKIE MTHEMBI-MAHANYELE, TO THE ROUND-TABLE ON SUSTAINABLE AFRICAN CITIES, WSSD, Crowne Plaza, 27 August 2002

Madam Chair
Honourable Ministers
Mayors of cities from across the world
Executive Director of UN-Habitat,
Partners of the Habitat Agenda
Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

I consider it an honour and privilege to present this keynote address to the Round-table on Sustainable African Cities - I do so with a deep sense of satisfaction. It is also an honour for me to co-host this auspicious event with my colleague, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms Anna Tibaijuka, and cements a relationship, which has been initiated at the inaugural session of the World Urban Forum that was held Nairobi in May of this year.

As South Africa we are pleased that the WSSD is being hosted in one of the major cities on the African continent. The location of the Summit in the City of Johannesburg is a further amplification of the African Renaissance that propagates Africa as an equal partner in the Global economy. And, the New Partnership for Africa's Development is set to guide Africa in facing the combined threats of under-development, poverty, environmental degradation, ill health and disease, and conflicts over natural resources that could undermine the prospects for political stability and prosperity across the continent. This presents a window of opportunity that creates the urgency for achieving sustainable development.

Although the WSSD agenda is structured to include themes of poverty, environment and development, financing mechanisms, technology transfer, trade and the environment, sustainable urbanisation, energy, environmental health and land degradation, there is an acknowledgement in the type 1 outcomes of the WSSD that human settlements, and in particular our cities, provide the backdrop for so many of the actions that will affect people, the planet and prosperity.

Urbanisation

South Africa, along with the rest of Africa, is presently experiencing rapid growth and change. These dynamics are generating a considerable amount of debate around the developmental path that should be adopted in respect of economy, society, culture and the environment. Among the most influential dynamic of change is the rapid urbanisation of African cities.

Urbanisation in its simplest definition refers to the movement of people from one place of residence to another, and is used to explain the growth and development of urban areas and cities. As a phenomenon, urbanisation occurs at a range of levels in space, be it at a regional or inter-urban scale. Explanations for processes of urbanisation are linked to greater economic and income generating opportunities as well as greater access to services and amenities within urban areas. The analysis of urbanisation tends to focus on measuring the nature and extent of urban population migrations and the impacts of the respective movements, again both at a local and regional scale.

The physical manifestation of urbanisation is the development of large cities and the increased influence that these phenomena have on regions, nations, continents and the world in terms of nodes of financial, technological, political and social powers, and the ability of these agglomerations to stimulate further growth. And because people move to cities to benefit from economic and other opportunities, urbanisation demands that cities become increasingly specialised and diversified in terms of providing its inhabitants with various needs. Hence, cities providing greater social and economic opportunity implicitly also are afforded greater influence in respect of economy, culture and society. It is critical for African cities to understand these phenomena in order to not only to begin to grapple with the mass exodus from rural to urban areas, but also to begin to establish themselves as players in regional and global economies.

Context

Between 2000 and 2025, the world's urban population is expected to double from 2.4 billion (in 1995) to 5 billion and that city-dwellers will rise from 47 per cent to over 61 per cent of the world's population. Most of this explosive growth will occur in the cities of the developing world. There will be a doubling of the overall urban population, between 2000 and 2025, in Latin America and the Caribbean, in Asia and in Africa - above all in Africa, where population is expected to grow by 5 % a year, doubling every 13 years. It is here, in the exploding cities of some of the poorest countries of the world, that the central challenge lies.

To this extent, South Africa is very close to being classified as an urbanised society. Of greater concern, however, is that the majority of this urbanisation is occurring among the poor of our society. The tendency of urbanisation shows increasing levels of poverty and unemployment - greater numbers of urban dwellers are struggling to satisfy basic needs.

Sustainable Development and Human Settlements in Africa

Notwithstanding the importance attached to urbanisation, limited interrogation is being done about how urban growth should be accommodated and managed to best meet the needs of cities' inhabitants. It must be acknowledged that cities outlive any single generation and hence, the decisions made by ourselves will profoundly affect the alternatives of future generations of city dwellers, thus the need for sustainable cities.

Contrary to popular belief, sustainable development in cities is not merely development that can be sustained, but rather the kind of development needs to be pursued in order to achieve the state of sustainability. It is not the goal, but the process of maintaining a dynamic balance between the demands of people and what is ecologically possible. Development is also not just seen in its narrow meaning of growth, expansion and acquiring knowledge, but as progress through improvement, evolution and the quest for wisdom. While the scope of the term is still evolving as it is co-opted by more and more disciplines and advocacy groups, it is generally agreed to place certain demands on human activity in the three systems central to development.

Firstly, the economic aspects of sustainable development require the development of an economic system that facilitates equitable access to resources and opportunities and the fair sharing of finite ecologically productive space that enables sustainable livelihoods and establishes viable businesses and industries based on sound ethical principles. The focus is on creating prosperity for all, not just profits for a few, and to do this within the bounds of the ecologically possible and without infringing on basic human rights. Secondly, social aspects of sustainable development require that we enable the development of fair and just societies that foster positive human development and provide people with opportunities for self-actualisation and an acceptable quality of life. And thirdly, environmental aspects of sustainable development require that we find a balance between protecting the physical environment and its resources, and using these resources in a way that will allow the earth to continue supporting an acceptable quality of life for human beings.

It is highly unlikely that all of the sustainability principles can be upheld at all times, as they have conflicting requirements. Most of the time, decision-makers will have to make trade-offs and otherwise try to balance the different requirements to find a solution that is the optimum one for the greater good. These decisions need to be flexible and should be regularly reviewed against agreed-upon indicators, to keep the three systems in dynamic balance and ensure that one sphere is not developed at the expense of the others.

South Africa, for example, is in the process of extricating itself from a dispensation that saw the gross inequitable distribution of resources among its population. In attempting to redress these imbalances, South Africa is in a particularly difficult position as the interaction between competing agendas demand that these inequities are redressed in a manner that is acceptable to both rich and poor, to enable all to live within what is ecologically possible - striving toward sustainable urban settlements.

With Africa rapidly being propelled into the urban age, it is faced with challenges that are very different from those faced by other continents. But along with these challenges a huge range of opportunities also present themselves for the people living in Africa: greater freedom and more opportunities for development. The opportunities for improvement in the quality of their life will be great. Urban societies are more open, they give people more chances to build networks or join systems of division of labour, which will generate higher productivity and ultimately greater prosperity and wealth. In such high-density systems of interaction, each creative advance spills over into others: thus, policies can help encourage such virtuous circles of innovation-led growth.

Habitat Agenda

As I suggested previously, sustainable development often raises conflicting demands and conditions for the creation of settlements. These conditions are also different within varying economic, political, cultural and social contexts. It is therefore not possible to define a physical blueprint for sustainable human settlements. However, the Habitat Agenda does attempt to create a normative blueprint that could be applied as appropriate to the creation of settlements everywhere.

Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, when the international community committed itself to sustainable development, and Agenda 21 was formulated as an international blueprint for sustainable development, all sectors of society have been in the process of interpreting and pursuing sustainability and sustainable development within their specific contexts. The ability to meet most of our basic human needs relates in one way or another to the creation and performance of human settlements, and Chapter 7 of Agenda 21 saw the creation of sustainable human settlements as integral to the achievement of sustainable development.

To address the role of human settlements in sustainable development, a second international action plan, the Habitat Agenda, was prepared. The Habitat Agenda outlines a global approach to providing adequate shelter for all and developing sustainable human settlements and is the international consensus document describing the qualities and needs of sustainable human settlement development. It attempts to offer, within a framework of goals, principles and commitments, a positive vision of sustainable human settlements where all have adequate shelter, a healthy and safe environment, basic services, and productive and freely chosen employment.

However, the Habitat Agenda provides such a diverse range of environmental, economic, social, political, demographic, institutional and cultural goals that most governments or international agencies can characterise some of what they do as contributing towards sustainable development. This includes goals whose achievement in one sector or location implies a move away from the achievement of sustainable development goals in another sector or location.

Sustainable Urban Form

It is commonly acknowledged that urban structure and form have a pivotal role to play in the sustainability of human settlements. Urban structure and form determine both quality of life and resource efficiency, and can be a key determinant of socio-economic equity, as illustrated by the consequences of South Africa's own apartheid city.

Current literature suggests that the most popular school of thought in respect of sustainable urban form is the Compact City, typically described as a dense and socially diverse city where economic and social activities overlap and where communities are focused around neighbourhoods. It is seen as growing around centres of social and commercial activity located at public transport nodes. These provide the focal points around which neighbourhoods develop. The Compact City is a network of these neighbourhoods, each with its own parks and public spaces and accommodating a diversity of overlapping private and public activities, leading to the formation of a polycentric city.

Central to the concept of the compact city are the principles of integration and densification. Integration seeks both absorption of functions (or mixed-use) and integration of the different classes of society. In theory, integration of functions such as residential, commercial, social services and public space would bring jobs and other opportunities closer to where people are live, thus reducing transportation needs. In practice this seldom happens if the second aspect of integration - socio-economic integration - is not present. This phenomenon is particularly common to most of South Africa's major cities and one that needs to be redressed in order for the apartheid city pattern to be broken down.

Densification combats urban sprawl and provides economies of scale for effective and affordable service delivery for certain types of services. It is an appropriate response in areas where high levels of services, such as waterborne sewage and full electrification, are provided at an affordable rate, and where there is an acceptable ratio between residential density (number of dwellings) and population density (people per square metre). However, if these conditions are not present, densification may actually be detrimental. It may be worth remembering why the dense city model was so categorically rejected in the last century and the concepts of Garden Cities and New Towns became so popular. The industrial cities of the 19th century suffered extremes of overcrowding, poverty and ill health, resulting in life expectancies of as little as 25 years. It was these very conditions that gave rise to the sanitary revolution that became the forerunner of the Brown Agenda. Today informal settlements are prime examples of areas of extremely high density, with the benefits of high density living, such as closer social contacts and larger support networks, but where inadequate service levels, overcrowding and proximity are creating serious health problems and increased fire risks.

To confound the planners even further is the fact that all over the world people who can afford it are deserting higher density urban environments for their inferior (according to sustainability criteria) suburban equivalent. There are two main reasons for this. Declining household size means that a given density of housing supports a declining number of people; and as people become wealthier, they require more space for themselves, their possessions and their activities. Higher density is therefore not a sure-fire recipe for sustainable urban form, and may not be an appropriate response in rural areas at all, where other factors such as extended family living and food security play a large role in the spatial requirements of the settlement.

It can therefore be argued that, instead of thinking of integration and densification as two absolutes, they should rather be based on the principles of diversity and choice. Diversity would allow for a range of opportunities for diverse groups of people. Integration would increase diversity and choice. Choice refers to the availability of different options to different people and this is also applicable in terms of densities. Some people may choose to stay closer to economic opportunities and will therefore have to be content with higher density living, due to increased land values and higher rents. They will, however, save on transportation costs. Others may choose to live on the urban periphery, where they can afford a larger plot and a house and supplement their incomes through home-based enterprises and subletting, as well as having room for subsistence living. Sustainable cities in Africa will therefore have to make provision for different income groups and different preferences, while ultimately striving towards more compact development. In South Africa, however, there is the specific need to retrench the apartheid city via conscious attempts to integrate various classes of society.

Moreover, a sustainable city is much more than what I have just outlined. A sustainable city is one that provides a quality living environment for all: where services and amenities are equitably distributed to all; where the mobilisation of all human resources are encouraged; where landscape and built form are balanced and where buildings and infrastructures are safe and resource-efficient; where multi-functionality is encouraged; and where all people participate in public life and government.

How these dimensions are manifested in different settlements is entirely a function of local conditions, culture, levels of commitment and, most importantly, the basis on which decisions are made. Thus urban sustainability is a multi-dimensional problem that requires a systemic approach. The decision-making processes of a sustainable city would therefore also be different from traditional approaches. In practice this means a move from hierarchical and sectoral decision-making to a more holistic, integrated and participative approach.

According to Agenda 21 and the Habitat Agenda, integrated planning and sustainable development go hand in hand. Integrated planning is concerned with the overall behaviour of a regional system and its sub-systems, as linked together by fluxes of material and energy. The concept of integrated planning further implies that technical solutions are no longer the most important aspect in decision-making, but should be seen as only one part of the problem-solving process. At an urban level, integrated planning takes all the conditions and circumstances that will play a part in the successful outcome of the plan into account, and involves all the people or organisations who have a role to play or a contribution to make. It should generate "optimum" solutions that give the best overall performance for the environment and the socio-economic system, and enough flexibility to allow for changes to reflect changing conditions.

However, for integrated planning to be successful, it should be based on a good understanding of the make-up of the urban system, and then prioritise actions according to the dynamics of the system. Where integrated planning is based on strategic planning according to priorities identified early on in the public participation process, critical parts of the system can be left out of the equation, leading to unexpected problems further down the line, or even the collapse of the entire system. Basing decisions on current developmental priorities alone (focusing only on certain parts of the system), and ignoring the system's dynamics of settlements, can result in intuitive, feel-good decisions that provide short-term solutions, but undermine the long-term sustainability of these settlements.

Human Settlement Development: The South African Experience

Since 1994, South Africa's development has largely been guided by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). The RDP sought to redress the unsustainable legacy of Apartheid by reducing inequality through meeting the basic needs of all people, and emphasised the concept of people-driven development and encapsulated the values that the WSSD sought to ensure are taken up by all UN member states.

A key example of an RDP-linked delivery programme is the South Africa n Housing Programme. Adequate housing is seen as an essential component of sustainable livelihoods, and is recognised through the inclusion of the right to access to housing in the South African Constitution. The delivery of 1.3 million new housing units for the poor through the housing programme since 1994 is a notable achievement in the implementation of South Africa's housing policy - since the introduction of the housing programme, approximately 5 million people now have access to potable water, sanitation, shelter and secure tenure.

Of greater concern though is the spatial pattern of South African cities that is legacy of the previous dispensation. The apartheid system left South African settlements with a legacy of inequity reflected in low-density sprawl, fragmentation and separation. While sprawl manifests itself in upmarket estates for the wealthier classes, peripheral low cost residential areas and informal settlement, fragmentation refers to relatively discrete cells of development intersected by road systems; and separation occurred between land-uses, population and income groups. With hindsight, it is acknowledged that the spatial pattern that has arisen over the past 6 years is a largely unsustainable one, and one that more often than not entrenches the apartheid city form. These unsustainable development trends occurred largely due to the low cost of peripheral land, as compared to more centrally, well-located land. The effects of urban sprawl on the natural environment, and particularly that of unplanned informal settlements on marginal land, which negatively affect sensitive eco-systems, further contributed to unsustainable development.

Housing not only satisfies a basic need for shelter but also plays a critical role in economic development. A direct correlation exists between increased spending on housing and increased employment opportunities in the construction sector, where it is estimated that the housing programme supports 43 000 permanent jobs. The programme is thus making a significant contribution to the reduction of poverty that is key to sustainable development in the Southern African region.

In addressing the current dysfunctional urban form of many South African cities and in dealing with the housing and infrastructure backlogs manifested in informal settlements, cognisance must be taken of social forces currently shaping the housing environment and influencing the sustainability of South African cities. Central to this initiative is the concept of integration. Intensive public amenities and services need to be provided and exposed to all inhabitants of cities, to the extent that it should be possible for the urban poor to gain access to amenities that have been generated through the resources of the affluent. And, with increasing agglomeration, individuals stand to gain access to a broader range of facilities and amenities. To this end, it is important that the public sector is seen to be making concerted efforts in investing in the public domain, thereby creating the impetus for private sector investment.

Another concern relates to the lack of design input into the houses and the settlement layout. Densities of houses are generally low, although huge discrepancies exist in some cases between gross layout densities and occupational densities. In addition, there is little experimentation with new house forms or different housing typologies, as well as alternative building methods. To this end, the Department of Housing is currently interrogating alternative housing and settlement models that not only seeks to increase densities, but also does so in multi-functional living environments.

In South Africa we have learnt that partnerships in housing and human settlement development is key to enhancing sustainability. The transformation of local government and a new emphasis on the developmental and governance role of local government in South Africa contributes toward development that not only meets the needs of communities but also places local authorities in greater control with regard to issues of governance in their areas of jurisdiction.

Further, in focussing on the involvement of communities to build their own homes through the People's Housing Process, significant gains are made in both the size and quality of construction of subsidised houses. The PHP also enhances sustainability by instilling a sense of ownership and pride in achievement via owner building.

Access to credit for the poor continues to remain a challenge in developing countries. In South Africa the success of the Rural Housing Loan Fund in providing in excess of 37 000 small loans to poor households in rural areas, demonstrates that the market can be developed if appropriate methodologies, systems and financial products are made available. Further, the introduction of the Community Reinvestment Bill to promote the participation of financial institutions in the lower end of the housing finance market is also aimed at encouraging the development of a secondary market in the low cost housing sector.

New Policy Shifts

The South African Government is on the verge of entering a new phase of its housing programme and seeks to address many of the shortcomings in sustainability that have been highlighted in this paper. The major shifts in policy and programme focus are: firstly, a shift in focus from the provision purely of shelter to building habitable and sustainable settlements and communities; and secondly, a shift in emphasis on the number of units delivered towards the quality of the new housing stock and living environments.

To achieve the above, 4 strategic policy thrusts have been identified. The first deals with the urbanisation of poverty and seeks to provide assets to end-users rather than the previous conceptualisation of "Government hand-out". The second thrust focuses institution building in the acknowledgement that the provision of housing is not the sole domain of public sector agencies. Thirdly, there is the need to optimise resource use by making human settlements more effective and efficient. Related is the rationalisation and alignment of public resources in order to ensure economic, societal and environmental sustainability. And finally, there is the need to establish, enhance and consolidate partnerships between government, civil society and the public sector.

Specifically, interventions will focus on:

a) Integrated development;
b) A demand driven housing programme shifting away from the current supply driven approach;
c) Consumer protection measures through the introduction of a warranty on subsidised low cost housing products;
d) A medium density-housing programme to develop housing on land well located to support public transport systems and to provide access to economic and social opportunities;
e) New housing legislation and financial mechanisms to promote the development and good governance of rental housing stock in order to support the medium density housing and urban integration initiatives;
f) The introduction of measures to bring the financial sector back into the lower income housing credit market; and
g) Introducing a rapid land release programme nationally to address the immediate needs arising from rapid urbanisation pressures particularly (but not exclusively) in the metropolitan areas and to facilitate further upgrading on an incremental basis.

Finally, this paper on sustainable cities in Africa would be incomplete without mention being made of NEPAD. NEPAD covers considerable spheres ranging from the fight against poverty and the development of agriculture and industry to regional economic integration, protection of the environment and the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights. Yes, while NEPAD may be silent on the issues of human settlements per se, it goes without saying that settlements, and in particular cities are deeply affected by the initiative. For example, the free movement of commodities and people within the region has a direct bearing on urbanisation and consequently maintaining sustainable balance of our urban settlements. It, therefore, becomes critical that African cities gear themselves to assume a new role of catalyst for economic growth, over-and-above the historic functions that need to be resuscitated.

Conclusion

Today African cities stand at a cross-roads. It is generally accepted that they perform poorly with regard to the functions to which they have been charged, such as the creation of access to services, amenities and economic opportunities. And, the situation is likely to deteriorate even further in the face of increasing urbanisation, which, in turn, will negatively impact on the socio-economic, political and environmental environment. To this end, we should continue to strive to create sustainable human settlements: settlements that enable us to live in a manner that supports the state of sustainability and the principles of sustainable development, and that have institutional, social and economic systems that will ensure their continued existence while constantly taking cognisance of the natural environment within which we are located.

Thank you.

Appendix 3
29 August 2002
Strategy Roundtable on the Strengthening of Local Government

MINISTER OF PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, F.S. MUFAMADI'S. OPENING REMARKS TO "STRATEGY ROUNDTABLE ON THE STRENGTHENING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT",

1 Introduction

* Having been here for at least three days, delegates who came from other parts of the world will have noticed that Johannesburg is a 1'city of contrasting contrasting realities". The contrasts that you see between the affluent suburbs the five-star hotels and the grandiose company headquarters on one hand, and the "corrugated shacks of Alexandra "township" on the other, speak to the persistence of the legacy of the infamous system of Apartheid. These contrasts are not a peculiarity of the Johannesburg metropolitan municipality. They are reflective of the problems we face in the country as a whole.

* The Apartheid system of government was characterised by institutions and forms of administration which were designed to exclude the majority from the benefits of development.
Our democracy was born with the normative concern for charting a path which would guarantee inclusion of those who were marginal to the country's development path.

2. Description of apartheid local government system

* Our new system of local government was inaugurated a little more than two years ago. Our approach to the system takes into account the reality that we come from a past which was characterised by:
** Inconsistent forms of municipalities across the country;
** Divided tax bases with systematic under-development of black residential areas; and
** Poor or non-existent municipal service delivery in those areas which lacked economic and service delivery infrastructure.

* To compound the problem. we had a system of local government finance that assumed each municipality's capacity to manage its own challenges. The common practice that revenue should be self-generated suited white local authorities with wealthy populations and large economic concentrations.

* From the above it is clear that the new municipalities are not and cannot, be starting from the same place. Some "new local municipalities" and metropolitan municipalities were by and large financially viable - a position they inherited from apartheid's skewed distribution of resources. Their
creditworthiness has never been in question and they were therefore, even able to leverage resources from the financial institutions for use in discharging their obligations to municipal residents. The same cannot be said especially of those municipalities in provinces which are predominantly rural.

3. Programme of support to local government

* It is clear that local government cannot be viable as a sphere unless the sphere functions within the context of a properly integrated inter-sphere system of government. In other words, although ours is a multi-sphered system of government, we take the view that each sphere must have powers and functions which are clearly delineated in the constitution. We also have in place a financial architecture which ensures that nationally collected revenue is distributed across the three spheres of government, in a manner that enables each sphere to discharge its constitutional obligation to the people.

* Since local government was the last sphere to be put in place, we have crafted a "programme of support for local government" which is to be implemented by national government, provincial governments as well as by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). I must also point out that the South African Local Government Association is itself a creature of statute and therefore it is the recognised voice of local government. Together with SALGA, national and provincial government have adopted a trajectory of local government transformation which has the following milestones and timeframes:

* The first two years, that is from year 2000 to year 2002, have been designated as the "Establishment and Stabilisation phase". A special GRANT FUND was created by National Treasury to facilitate the establishment of new municipal structures and to empower the new local government cadreship through a variety of training programmes. Through the training programmes, we target both the political leadership as well as administrative personnel. We also assist the municipalities to craft strategic plans which are intended to enable municipalities to plan and draw up budgets in ways which take into account the strategic socio-economic needs of their newly demarcated local jurisdictions.

* The second phase is one of CONSOLIDATION and that too has tasks which appropriately attach to it. The phase began in July 2002 and it will end in the year 2005.

* We have had occasion to review progress and challenges arising out of how we acquitted ourselves during phase one of local government transformation. Consequently, we have a new action plan which 5 p ells out the things which we shall be doing in support of local government In the current phase of its development.

* The third and final phase is called the SUSTAINABILITY PHASE. The phase starts in the year 2005. In terms of this programme, we intend to ensure that the other spheres of government stay very close to local government until at least the year 2010.

* It bears emphasising that the three phases which we have just outlined are not hermetically sealed one from the other. They so interpenetrate each other that some of the tasks visualised for one phase extend into the other.

4. Reasons for supporting local government

We support local government because as we see it, our multi-sphered system of government can only function optimally if it functions as an integrated entity.

We also support local government because its proximity to the people suggests to us that it has the greatest possibility of ensuring that governance is responsive to and expressive of the will of the people.

Lastly, we must state that many local governments in the world, including in our country have shown demonstrable progress towards positioning themselves as agents of sustainable development. Not only is local government able to make a substantial contribution to national sustainability strategies but also, the contemplated "LOCAL ACTION 21" will depend for its successful implementation, on the contribution of a strong local government sphere which works in partnership with other spheres of government.

I thank you.

Issued by the Ministry of Provincial and Local Government

Eviction Anger

TEMPERS REACHED boiling point at Kwamasiza hostel Vaal Triangle as residents who were evicted on Wednesday were prevented by police from getting into the premises fetch their belongings. -
The police and Red Ants Security guards kept a tight guard and searched everyone who was entering the hostel checking their identities closely,
The eviction started on Wednesday when a private company, Vicva, evicted residents who owed rent.
The residents claimed they had been given permission by former owners Iscor to live rent free.
Some vowed to go back the hostel although they had already been thrown out the previous day.

No permission
"Today we will not sleep the streets again. Instead we are moving to the hostel with or without their permission and tomorrow we are marching to the council," said the residents' chairperson, Mongameli Maqutyani.

Some residents claimed they had lost their belongings during the eviction.
There were also Iscor employees who claimed to ha been evicted although they had produced their monthly payslip statements.
Nomalanga Bhuya said her rent had been deducted from her salary. They deduct
money from my salary every month so how come I am a. evicted?" asked Bhuya.
Emfuleni council spokeperson Stan'ey Gaba Said the ity over the hostel because it is now owned by a private company known as the Vicva trade company'.
However he admitted that the council was also affected by the evictions and that they are engaged in negotiations to find solutions.
The co-ordinator of Sedibeng\Vaal forum, Apa Pooe, said the forum had submitted a proposal to the national housing ministry which listed resident complaints about the eviction.
· We are still waiting for a response from the national and provincial housing 'ministry but people are being evicted," he said.
Pooe said residents who had been evicted would march to the council offices tomorrow.
The march will start from the hostel at 8am.

Appendix 4
Issued by Ministry of Housing

Source: Ministry of Housing
Title: Mthembi-Mahanyele: Round-table of Global Alliance for Building Sustainability
-
THE SOUTH AFRICAN HOUSING PROGRAMME - FROM ASPIRATION TO REALITY - ADDRESS BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF HOUSING, MS SD MTHEMBI-MAHANYELE, DURING THE ROUND-TABLE OF THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY, 30 August 2002

Chairperson
Honoured Delegates

I am grateful to have been invited to participate in this session of the Global Alliance for Building Sustainability and to speak on the topic of moving the South African Housing Programme from what was initially an aspiration to an implemented reality.

In my presentation I will deal with the development of the programme from the time when it was only an aspiration, how the policy process unfolded and the challenges, which we faced in implementing and operationalising the policy.

Introduction

Chairperson, the South African Housing Programme had its beginnings some time prior to the first democratic elections in 1994. The National Housing Forum, established in 1992 and consisting of all the housing stakeholders and political groupings at the time, was the vehicle established to start and carry the dialogue on a new housing policy and strategy for South Africa.

Through a series of often difficult, negotiations and policy planning processes in the run up to the elections in 1994 the Forum developed the basic outline of the current housing policy and reached a broad consensus amongst all the stakeholders.

The White Paper on a New Housing Policy and Strategy for South Africa adhered to the principles set out in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).

These included:

* Housing as a basic human right
* People-centred development
* Freedom of choice
* Non discrimination

The new policy is based on the principles of:

* Economic empowerment
* Sustainability and fiscal affordability

To quote the words in the White Paper:

"For the first time in its history, South Africa now has a policy framework for all of its citizens. The approach adopted has been the search for the creation of an enabling environment, and not for the publication of a new set of rules. It aims to contribute to the certainty required by the market, as well as give the Provincial and Local Governments their capacity to fulfil their Constitutional obligations.

Throughout the document, a partnership between the various tiers of government, the private sector and the communities is envisaged. This is seen as a fundamental prerequisite for the sustained delivery of housing at a level unprecedented in the history of this country. It requires all parties not only to argue for their rights, but also to accept their respective responsibilities."

Having achieved this milestone the stage was now set to face the challenges of operationalising the policy.

Challenges

Challenges in achieving this were many and indeed daunting.

One of the greatest initial challenges facing all role-players was the creation of a public environment conducive to attracting the necessary private investment, both of the household as well as that of the institutions. Success in meeting the housing challenge remains one of the cornerstones of rebuilding our social structures and regenerating the economy.

The creation of the capacity and mechanisms at provincial and national level to administer the new capital subsidy was another major challenge, particularly within the framework of the transformation of the civil service.

Phasing out the myriad of housing dispensations - a legacy of the Apartheid Regime - and introducing one subsidy assistance scheme for all South Africans has been a substantial challenge, which has been largely achieved through the promulgation of the Housing Act of 1997. However, the phasing out of some of the old business is still in progress owing mainly to contractual commitments prior to 1994.

Prior to 1994 the fiscal deficit had grown rapidly, despite government efforts to maintain the deficit at around 3% of GDP, in keeping with International Monetary Fund guidelines. The size of the deficit (8% of GDP) placed serious constraints on economic development. The greatly expanded housing delivery programme to meet the Reconstruction and Development Programme target of 1,000,000 houses in five years, necessitated substantially increased fiscal spending on housing. The housing budget of some R3,2 billion annually has remained reasonably constant with slight increases in the next few financial years to make provision for the medium density social housing initiative.

A broad economic policy framework which facilitates a significant increase in the delivery of housing, had to address the following issues:

* a higher rate of economic growth and, in particular, rising and more equitably distributed real per capita income;
* an increase in the level of employment; greater incentives to save;
* reduction in government dis-saving; and
* effective containment of the rate of inflation (especially in construction prices).

These factors, in combination, would serve to create an environment conducive to savings for, and investment in housing, and which, in turn, would increase the likelihood that specific housing policy would achieve its objectives. In light of these facts, Government has taken a policy decision to increasingly promote a savings-based approach to housing credit.

We also inherited a large existing and increasing housing backlog, due to very low rates of formal housing provision. There will be an estimated 8.3 million households in South Africa in 1995. In 1995 the average household size nation-wide was 4.97 people, and it is estimated that there were approximately 2.0 million single people. Given the projected rate of population growth, an average of 200,000 new households would be formed annually between 1995 and 2000. The phenomena of extended households and circulatory migration further add to the complexity of dealing with the housing issue.

Many people in South Africa did not have access to basic services, such as potable water, sanitation systems and electricity. Furthermore, many neighbourhoods were inadequately supplied with social and cultural amenities.

Approximately one quarter of all functionally urban households in South Africa did not have access to a piped potable water supply.

An estimated 48% of all households did not have access to flush toilets or ventilated improved pit latrines, whilst 16% of all households had no access to any type of sanitation system

It is estimated that 46.5% of all households were not linked to the electricity supply grid in South Africa.

Although no accurate statistics existed, many households did not have access to socio-cultural amenities within their neighbourhoods, such as schools, health care facilities, sports facilities, cultural and community centres, etc. Most informally housed people had poor access to such facilities, whilst many formal housing areas were also poorly served.

In undertaking its new housing programme, the Government had to strive to eliminate previous approaches which effectively separated the provision of housing stock from other services, be they physical or social. The massive damaging effects of this illogical and fragmented policy approach were physically reflected in our urban and rural areas, and socially reflected in the dislocation of our society.

A housing programme cannot be limited to housing, but needs to be promoted in such a manner as to give meaning to the goal of creating viable communities. This simple and self evident statement will necessitate the most fundamental and far-reaching conceptual changes for all those involved in the housing delivery process, and constitutes one of the primary challenges in effecting the Government's Reconstruction and Development Programme.

South Africa was characterised by large-scale unemployment in the formal sector of the economy. The increasing growth rate of the economically active population in conjunction with a declining or stagnant rate of growth of GDP in 1994 implied that the level of unemployment was set to increase still further. The high level of unemployment, coupled with the declining levels of per capita GDP, had a negative effect on demand for and investment in housing and diminished Government's resource ability to assist the poor and unemployed. A solution to this problem was fundamental to a sustainable solution for the housing problem. At the same time, it was equally apparent that the housing sector had a potentially enormous role to play in the revitalisation of the South African economy. This point is underlined by the very high direct and indirect economic multiplier effect of housing production.

What was needed was a broad economic policy framework, which would facilitate a significant increase in the delivery of housing and address the following issues:

* a higher rate of economic growth and, in particular, rising and more equitably distributed real per capita income;
* an increase in the level of employment; greater incentives to save;
* reduction in government dis-saving; and
* effective containment of the rate of inflation (especially in construction prices).

These factors, in combination, served to create an environment conducive to savings for, and investment in housing, and which, in turn, will increase the likelihood that specific housing policy will achieve its objectives. In light of these facts, Government has taken a policy decision to increasingly promote a savings-based approach to housing credit and subsidies.

The new policy and achievements since 1994

Chairperson I have briefly outlined some of the challenges which influenced the design of the new housing policy and strategy there are many more, including planning and housing land issues, which I will not dwell on further. It is more appropriate now to focus on the housing goals, which we set ourselves, and strategic thrusts that were designed to meet the challenges and today still form the basis of the policy.

In 1994 we set out to increase housing's share in the total state budget to five percent and to increase housing delivery on a sustainable basis to a peak level of 338 000 units per annum, within a five year period, to reach the target of the Government of National Unity of 1,000,000 houses in five years.

Against the background of the housing challenges, the new housing policy and strategy focused on:

* Stabilising the housing environment
* Mobilising housing credit
* Rationalising institutional capacities
* Supporting the People's Housing Process
* A once-off capital subsidy
* Speedy release of housing land
* Infrastructure charges and tariffs

Reality

Many challenges remain in the implementation of the housing policy and programme. However, we have done much to reach the goal we set ourselves.

Since 1994 the programme has delivered 1,32 million houses with individual tenure to the poor in both urban and rural areas. All these households now own fixed assets and have a foothold in the national economy, which allows them to leverage additional resources and have the social benefits of adequate shelter. Some 8 million poor people now access to basic services of water, sanitation, shelter, electricity, and land.

On average the housing programme has delivered some 200 000 units to the poor annually and government is providing R3,2 billion annually to house the poor.

We have set minimum standards for the units provided at 32 square metres, which is intended as a starter unit that beneficiaries can improve and expand as they gain access to more resources.

All households earning R3 500 and less per month qualify to receive this once-off capital subsidy. These households currently comprise some 60 % of all households in the country, which clearly demonstrates the need for greater equity in income distribution and to enable the poor to actively participate in the national economy and particularly in the local economies.

In order to provide the greatest possible choice to housing subsidy beneficiaries, a variety of housing subsidy mechanisms have been introduced including a social housing model and a rural housing subsidy.

I would now like to go on to the specific aspirations and the reality with which we are currently faced.

The Aspiration

A market driven housing delivery mechanism where government subsidies are matched with private sector loans in both urban and rural areas to provide quality-housing products.

The reality

From a high of 8% of subsidies being credit linked only some 2% are currently credit linked. The large banking institutions have largely withdrawn from the subsidy housing market owing to high default rates on mortgage loans which are due to a number of socio-economic factors, not the least of which is the restructuring of the economy and the phenomenon of "jobless growth". This prejudices the aspiration of public private/partnership in alleviating the housing backlog and enabling the poor to establish a foothold in the urban economy by using the asset created through the housing subsidy to leverage loan finance for home improvement and acquiring productive assets.

Government response

Policy:

* The introduction of a savings linked housing subsidy mechanism, which will enable poor households, which develop a culture of regular savings (even very small amounts) to access housing subsidies on a preferential basis and to gain interest on the subsidy as well as on the savings amount. Linked to the introduction of an own contribution for beneficiaries to access the housing subsidy, this policy measure is also aimed at instilling a sense of citizenship.

Regulation:

* The Home Loan Mortgage Disclosure Act in the interest of promoting fair lending and non-discrimination (equity) provides for the disclosure of lending practices by the financial institutions to the Office of Disclosure. This will typically include reporting on the number of loan applications received and the reasons why applications were turned down. It is important to note that this legislation is aimed at raising the awareness of the need for the poor and previously excluded to gain access to housing loan finance (promoting democracy, equity and non-discrimination) and not to pressurise financial institutions to enter into imprudent lending.

* The introduction of the warranty of the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) to the subsidised housing market from 1 April 2001 will ensure that, for a nominal own contribution by beneficiaries, in future all housing units will be covered for structural defects for a period of five years.

* The setting of norms and standards for permanent residential structures ensures greater equity and quality of subsidised housing products.

Fiscal measures:

* The establishment of the National Housing Finance Corporation to mobilise housing funding and make it available to specialised (niche) lenders who make housing credit available to the poor. This programme has resulted in the emergence of a number of niche-lenders who specialise in housing finance at the lower end of the market.

* The establishment of the Rural Housing Loan Fund, which makes available wholesale funding to specialised (niche) lenders for on lending to poor rural households for housing purposes.

* The sustained budget amount of some R3, 2 billion annually for housing subsidies and the increase to the budget over the MTEF period specifically for medium density housing projects aimed at the integration of our cities and towns.

Aspiration - The empowerment of communities to participate in meeting their own housing needs and to access the economic opportunities, which the housing programme provides.

The Reality

The large construction companies are increasingly withdrawing from the subsidy housing market creating more space for communities, local authorities and small and emerging contractors to develop housing projects to meet the housing backlog of some 2,2 million units.

Government response

Policy

* The promotion of the People's Housing Process in partnership with the Homeless People's Federation. This programme in particular also supports the empowerment of women to participate in the housing process and to meet the target of 10% women headed/owned contractors in the subsidy market.

Regulation

* The requirements of the National Housing Code (developed in terms of a directive in the Housing Act, 1997) are that emerging contractors should receive priority to participate in the development of subsidised housing projects.

* A new procurement regime for housing introduced from 1 April 2002 will ensure that housing provision is demand driven and aligned with the Integrated Planning Processes and meets the requirements of the SA Constitution.

Fiscal measures

* The National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency (NURCHA) supports emerging contractors (including women) to access bridging finance by providing guarantees and seed capital and in cash flow management on projects to ensure fiscal sustainability. This programme also assists small contractors to acquire the skills of sound project management.

Aspiration - Sustainable, efficient, inclusive and habitable human settlements

Reality

In spite of delivering some 1,324 million houses with secure tenure and basic services to some 8 million people since 1994, our cities and towns still bear witness to the fragmentation and dysfunctionalities of the past. The poor remain vulnerable and are largely marginalised to the periphery of our human settlements.

Government response

Policy

* The introduction of a significant programme to build the capacity of municipalities to manage urbanisation and the housing programme, within the process of Integrated Development Planning required by the Municipal Systems Act.

* The introduction of a medium density-housing programme for the lower end of the market which will focus on the development of walk-up apartments on well located land providing access to socio-economic opportunities to the previously disadvantaged.

* The introduction of a social housing policy aimed at promoting and empowering social housing institutions.

* A policy of Rapid Land Release, which provides as a first phase land and basic services to the poor in areas where urbanisation pressures are at a peak. The second phase provides the top structures.

Regulation

* A Social Housing Bill providing for the funding and regulation of the social housing institutions, which will manage the housing stock.
* The Rental Housing Act regulates tenant/landlord relationships
* The Municipal Systems Act provides for participatory integrated development planning processes

Fiscal measures

* The government has provided some R300m to R560m additional to the housing budget for the MTEF period for medium density initiative.

Remaining challenges

Notwithstanding the success of the housing programme many challenges remain.

We are however confident that we can and will meet these challenges and continue to turn our aspirations of sustainable human settlement into reality.

I thank you for your attention.

Issued by Ministry of Housing

30 August 2002

27 August 2002
Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
Partnerships for Sustainable African Cities

CLOSING REMARKS AT THE PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE AFRICAN CITIES EVENT BY THE MINISTER OF PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FS MUFAMADI The Crowne Plaza Sandton 27August 2002

Madame Programme Director;
Honourable Ministers;
The Executive Director of UN-Habitat Dr Anna Tibaijuka;
Mayors and Councillors here present;
Chair of ICLEI;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

As local government practitioners and as Africans we have a tremendous job to do in these difficult days. Nothing has confirmed this reality more than our deliberations this morning.

Although a sense of the long-term nature of the trends within globalisation was given more than one hundred and fifty years ago. the process of globalisation has firmly established itself as the organising principle of contemporary life. Amongst other things the process entails deeper international economic integration which some argue will issue in higher levels of prosperity for humanity in all corners of our common globe.

Cities and their respective positions in the global economy are an important indicator as to whether indeed globalisation has transformed the world into a happy place for everyone. Recent studies measuring degrees of connectivity of "world cities" revealed that the only city in Africa which show a significant degree of connectivity is Johannesburg incidentally the city that is hosting the World Summit on Sustainable Development This low level of African connectivity stands in stark contrast to 13 global city regions in North America. 4 in South America 22 in Europe and 14 in Australasia.

From this it is clear that:

(a) African cities relate to the world economy in ways, in which the benefits of globalisation are not realised and the disadvantages of globalisation are magnified.
(b) Africa has to strive for a new relationship with the world economy a relationship which will improve our continent's ability to access resources for development. Those resources are currently limited in their circulation to the non-African metropolitan regions of the world.
(c) Our systems of governance must seek to ameliorate those aspects of globalisation which are manifestly responsible for spreading and deepening inequality between the industrialised countries and our continent.

Simultaneously. we have to pursue policies necessary to seize the developmental opportunities of globalisation. in other words, the challenge we face is to engage with the forces of globalisation and attempt to reshape them in a way that suits African society.

Madame Programme Director and distinguished participants, that is the context in which we must look at the challenge of building sustainable cities in Africa. The immensity of the challenge becomes even more evident when one considers the rapidity with which the process of African urbanisation has been growing. whereas during the 950's only 20% of the African population lived in urban areas, the UN-habitat estimates that on current trends, by 2030, about 54,5% of the African population will live in urban areas.

Already we can see the demographic pressures to which African cities are being subjected. The growing process of urbanisation in Africa has not been attended by concomitant levels of industrialisation. Thus all the process has amounted to is the urbanisation of poverty. As our people run away from the immiseration, which defines life in the rural areas, they find that the urban centres are just as unable to offer them sustainable livelihoods.

Chairperson, it is generally understood that cities are important nodes in the world economy. Well-managed cities therefore, offer the rudimentary basis for an effective solution to our continent's current negative integration into the world economy.

The effort of creating sustainable cities must also be located within the drive by the African Union to ensure horizontal integration of African economies. The Union seeks to pool our resources and use them to improve our collective ability to determine the terms of our integration into the world economy. Put in another way, it is only when we are united as a continent, that we shall be able to share our experiences of attempts at achieving sustainable development; and share those experiences in a mutually beneficial way. Failure to act in a united way will allow the developed countries to remain, alone. in the cockpit of the globalisation process. Development should not be allowed to continue to be a zero-sum game in which some benefit only because others have been impoverished.

Definitions of sustainable development which marginalise our experience can only maximise the interests of those who benefit from existing patterns of inequality. Our deliberations therefore, must contribute to a process of enhancing the voice which was hitherto confined to the periphery of the development game.

The developmental orientation of the African Union is well articulated in its socio-economic programme. the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). NEPAD is about issues that would have to be delivered by local government. These include infrastructure, capital accumulation, human capital, institutions, structural diversification, competitiveness, health and good stewardship of the environment. In most countries, these are already areas of local government competence.

African local government practitioners have already taken commendable steps to position our cities in ways that will enable them to play important roles. The AfriCities network. the African Mayors Forum and the African

Governance Forum are some of the initiatives which are expressive of the determination to achieve those noble goals.

Good continent-wide initiatives have the potential to stimulate and sponsor innovations within individual member states while they too are strengthened by national initiatives. For instance. in South Africa we have brought our six metropolitan cities together with our major secondary cities into a Cities Support and Learning Network. This network will promote access to information between cities, provincial and national spheres of government. It is this shared information which promotes shared learning and innovation.

The formal launch of our Cities Support and Learning Network will take place on World Habitat Day (October 7, 2002). We hope that the network will increase our own capacity systematically to contribute to the strengthening of existing and prospective African instruments.

These partnerships are the endogenous material without which we cannot have sustainable African cities, and by extension we cannot have sustainable African development. We owe it to ourselves and to future African generations, to ensure that we have:

* A functional AfriCities network;
* A vibrant African Mayors Forum; and
* An effective African Governance Forum.

It is these and other similar instruments which will give expression to partnerships which are established in the service of a prosperous African continent. It is only when we work in this focussed way that we can set our continent irrevocably on a path to sustainable development.

Ladies and Gentlemen. I thank you for your attention.

Issued by the Ministry of Provincial and Local Government




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