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Rebuilding South African Cities
Practical Reforms for Functional Local Government and Economic Growth

This was the theme of the public panel discussion we held at the beautiful Wits Campus in Johannesburg - the third in an event series we are co-hosting with the Wits Society for Macroeconomic Thought Leadership and the Wits School of Economics and Finance at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Panel: The panelists with the moderator during the discussion

The panelists with the moderator during the discussion

Kineilwe.M Photography

How can we overcome the serious challenges of South African cities and jointly create brighter and safer urban futures for all? Which practical approaches and reforms should we adopt to address longstanding, stark problems and complex crises? How can we improve the governance of cities? 

Our experienced panelists spoke about solution-oriented initiatives currently underway. They also introduced promising reform models and the experience gained where they were applied. The discussion explored the pros and cons of innovative approaches, such as partnerships with private service providers. What are the risks and opportunities they bring along, which conditions do they need to succeed, and how can these conditions be created where they are not in place yet?
 

Grouyp of people: Speakers at the Panel Discussion

Speakers at the Panel Discussion

Kindle.M Photography

We are grateful to our excellent panellists, Dr Roy Havemann, Bureau for Economic Research, Prof. Tania Ajam, School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University, Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao, Wits School of Governance, and Anthea Stephens, South African Treasury, for their informative, thought-provoking contributions and for sharing their wealth of experience from research and practical projects alike. We also appreciate the input from Prof. Adeola Oyenubi from the Wits School of Economics and Finance, and the keen audience.

The panel discussions in this series also aim to facilitate conversations among people from different backgrounds, sectors, disciplines, and generations. 

ICYMI, you can watch the recording of the discussion here:

Rebuilding South African Cities - Recording

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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