G20 Sherpas convene in South Africa to shape urban policy
Tshwane Mayo Dr Nasiphi Moya and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero brief the media about the forthcoming U20 Sherpa gathering to be held in Tshwane.
Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
Over the next few days, 96 U20 Sherpas from G20 member cities will be leading discussions and crafting policy recommendations - hosted by the Cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum for global economic and financial cooperation, bringing together the world's largest economies and South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year.
The City is ready for this landmark occasion, Tshwane Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said. She gave the assurance that the City of Tshwane, where this first Urban 20 Sherpa Meeting and African Mayors Assembly will take place - a first on African soil - is geared for the occasion.
'This is a landmark moment for our capital city. It is also a turning point in the story of how cities, particularly African cities, are stepping forward to shape the future of our urban world,' Moya said during a media briefing on Monday.
It is the first time the Urban 20 convenes on the African continent. Moya said it comes at a time when the global context demands urgency, unity, and bold leadership. Cities will align their voices and set out a shared vision for urban progress.
'Across South Africa and around the world, cities are grappling with the interconnected challenges of climate change, inequality, and economic strain. These pressures require more than conversation. They call for coordination, commitment, and action.'
Moya added that by hosting the U20 Sherpa Meeting and the African Mayors Assembly, we are ensuring that Africa's voice is not only present but actively shaping the G20 agenda at the highest level.
She explained that while the issues we face are global, the most effective solutions are local. Cities are where policy meets reality. 'African cities, with all their complexity, determination, and creativity, are central to building a more just and sustainable future.'
The U20 will for the first time also take place alongside a dedicated African Mayors Assembly - a platform for addressing our continent's specific priorities. From climate adaptation to equitable service delivery, the Assembly will ensure that Africa's urban agenda is meaningfully reflected in the final Communiqué, Moya said.
As part of this week's programme, the U20 Schools Legacy Programme will also be launched at Groenkloof Nature Reserve. It aims to equip young people with the practical skills, exposure, and inspiration they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. On June 14, some of the City's most iconic sites, such as the Union Buildings, Dinokeng Game Reserve, and Freedom Park, will be showcased to the delegates attending the U20 meeting scheduled for later this week..
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero meanwhile explained that four priorities are tabled that would anchor the U20 agenda—each deeply reflective of South Africa's developmental trajectory but also resonant with global urban realities.
The first is economic opportunities and urban financing, which will focus on unlocking investment pipelines for cities and closing the growing infrastructure gap. Climate action and urban resilience will also come under the spotlight, recognising that cities must be proactive planners in an age of climate disruption.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Mayors Morero and Nasiphi laugh off possibility of Zille becoming Joburg mayor
DA federal council chair Helen Zille. (@Our_DA/X) Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero and his Tshwane counterpart, Nasiphi Moya, have laughed off suggestions that Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Reports have emerged that some DA members have asked Zille to avail herself for the position on the party's internal leadership list. On 18 March, Zille announced that the DA had opened the first round of applications for candidates wanting to be considered for mayoral candidates in the upcoming local government elections in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, and Mangaung. The application window closed on 31 March. In a statement in March, Zille said the party is seeking the best candidates for these positions. 'The applicants will be interviewed and scored, with questions posed to them randomly drawn from a pre-approved bank of questions to ensure the integrity of the process. The successful candidate must thereafter be approved by the federal executive,' she said. 'The DA is seeking passionate, committed and skilled individuals, with excellent local government knowledge, and the willingness to do everything they can to rescue these metros from corruption and the collapse of services.' It is not known whether Zille has applied for any position in the metros. Speaking at a press briefing in Tshwane House on Monday, Morero suggested that Zille's potential inclusion on the list for Johannesburg mayor could indicate the DA's acknowledgment that the party in the region is not up to the task. He added that he would wait for the DA's list processes to commence. Morero also speculated that the statement might have been prompted by the DA recognising the efforts of the ANC and its coalition partners to address issues in Johannesburg. 'We have assembled a team of Joburgers, many of whom have served as city managers in Johannesburg and Tshwane, to help us turn around Johannesburg,' he said. 'We have extended the invitation to some among their ranks, and perhaps [the DA is] realising that something is being done to turn around Johannesburg. We are making progress, and we are beginning to see results.' Moya said it was interesting that the DA is considering Zille, who is in Western Cape, as a mayoral candidate in Johannesburg. Moya's deputy, Eugene Modise, said he viewed Zille's potential consideration as a sign of the DA's lack of confidence in its leadership in Johannesburg and Gauteng. Last week, Morero announced the deployment of what he termed the 'bomb squad' to address issues in Johannesburg. Its mandate is to identify problem areas and intervene in support of responsible units to ensure the municipality delivers efficient services. The leader of the 'bomb squad,' Snuki Zikalala, said at a media briefing last week that the group could not remain passive while the city collapsed. Zikalala emphasised that the group's main goal is to restore stability to the city. 'We come from parties that have a stronghold, and we want our councillors to take responsibility so that the needs of our people are met,' he said. 'Our people deserve to live in a clean and secure environment and to feel that they are integral citizens of South Africa. We cannot sit back and allow things to collapse.' Last month, the DA in Johannesburg submitted motions of no confidence in Morero and the speaker, Nobuhle Mthembu. DA Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser Echeozonjoku said that between the two of them, the council had turned into a political playground, while residents suffered the consequences of poor governance. 'We urge all councillors, irrespective of party affiliation, to support the DA's motions and join us in fighting for a city that works for all its people,' she urged. At the briefing on Monday, Morero said the coalitions in Tshwane and Johannesburg have been stable. He acknowledged the problems in Johannesburg and said they were being addressed.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
G20 Sherpas convene in South Africa to shape urban policy
Tshwane Mayo Dr Nasiphi Moya and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero brief the media about the forthcoming U20 Sherpa gathering to be held in Tshwane. Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers Over the next few days, 96 U20 Sherpas from G20 member cities will be leading discussions and crafting policy recommendations - hosted by the Cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg. The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum for global economic and financial cooperation, bringing together the world's largest economies and South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year. The City is ready for this landmark occasion, Tshwane Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said. She gave the assurance that the City of Tshwane, where this first Urban 20 Sherpa Meeting and African Mayors Assembly will take place - a first on African soil - is geared for the occasion. 'This is a landmark moment for our capital city. It is also a turning point in the story of how cities, particularly African cities, are stepping forward to shape the future of our urban world,' Moya said during a media briefing on Monday. It is the first time the Urban 20 convenes on the African continent. Moya said it comes at a time when the global context demands urgency, unity, and bold leadership. Cities will align their voices and set out a shared vision for urban progress. 'Across South Africa and around the world, cities are grappling with the interconnected challenges of climate change, inequality, and economic strain. These pressures require more than conversation. They call for coordination, commitment, and action.' Moya added that by hosting the U20 Sherpa Meeting and the African Mayors Assembly, we are ensuring that Africa's voice is not only present but actively shaping the G20 agenda at the highest level. She explained that while the issues we face are global, the most effective solutions are local. Cities are where policy meets reality. 'African cities, with all their complexity, determination, and creativity, are central to building a more just and sustainable future.' The U20 will for the first time also take place alongside a dedicated African Mayors Assembly - a platform for addressing our continent's specific priorities. From climate adaptation to equitable service delivery, the Assembly will ensure that Africa's urban agenda is meaningfully reflected in the final Communiqué, Moya said. As part of this week's programme, the U20 Schools Legacy Programme will also be launched at Groenkloof Nature Reserve. It aims to equip young people with the practical skills, exposure, and inspiration they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world. On June 14, some of the City's most iconic sites, such as the Union Buildings, Dinokeng Game Reserve, and Freedom Park, will be showcased to the delegates attending the U20 meeting scheduled for later this week.. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero meanwhile explained that four priorities are tabled that would anchor the U20 agenda—each deeply reflective of South Africa's developmental trajectory but also resonant with global urban realities. The first is economic opportunities and urban financing, which will focus on unlocking investment pipelines for cities and closing the growing infrastructure gap. Climate action and urban resilience will also come under the spotlight, recognising that cities must be proactive planners in an age of climate disruption.
Daily Maverick
6 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
SA must seize opportunity of tectonic global shifts to remodel its economy
The GNU must use the global governance crisis and its chairing of the G20 as a catalyst for the country to reorient its incorporation into global production structures, remodel its economy, ignite social renewal and secure national self-reliance. Despite its success in restoring diplomatic and economic interaction between South Africa and the US, President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent encounter with his American counterpart, President Donald Trump, also inadvertently cast an unflattering spotlight on South Africa's problem of pervasive crime and governance failures. The globally televised Oval Office drama, broadcast in prime time, highlighted domestic troubles that successive post-apartheid governments have failed to tackle effectively. It was a huge wake-up call for the year-old government of national unity (GNU) and an inflection point for the country's democracy. South Africa is at a crossroads. It is caught in the middle of major geopolitical shifts and a global governance crisis, which has been amplified by the ascendancy of the Trump administration in the US, colliding with its internal governance failures. These governance failures are typified by a slew of social and economic problems that have hampered the country's progress. These include a stagnant economy, high unemployment, poor public education and health systems, dysfunctional municipalities and state-owned enterprises, decaying infrastructure, endemic corruption, appalling public finances, widespread illegal immigration, an unwieldy and underperforming public service and rampant crime. Decisions required This moment of global turmoil and domestic crisis calls on the country's political leaders to make decisions about its future. It requires the GNU to make tough policy choices that will extricate the country from its social and economic stasis and launch it on a path towards national renewal and success. South African leaders will do well to draw on historical lessons in terms of how the country can confront global adversity and propel a new growth trajectory. Take, for example, how the country responded to the destruction caused by the onset of World War 2. The war galvanised many countries, including South Africa, to accelerate manufacturing, starting with munitions, arms and other critical supplies. In the aftermath of the war, South Africa built its industrial capabilities and raised its agricultural productivity. The foremost public policy consideration for the government at the time was post-war reconstruction. The Van Eck Commission, as well as the Social and Economic Planning Council, were set up with briefs to produce policy insights that would shape post-war development. Their recommendations led to, among other matters, an increase in farm support, the creation of marketing boards for agricultural products and the expansion of manufacturing activities. The war acted as an anchor to ignite economic recovery, and import tariffs played a key role in nurturing the development of an infant industry. Medical supplies for military use were also produced locally. Structural change was manifest on several fronts in the post-war years, especially between 1945 and 1970. During this period, there was a strong emphasis on capitalising on the conditions created by the war to stimulate local production and build the country's manufacturing capabilities. This sparked a rapid increase in national economic output and the growth rate, which averaged 5%. Second, manufacturing eclipsed primary production as the main driver of growth. Third, there was a marked shift in demographic concentration from rural to urban areas. The growth of metropolitan areas stimulated demand for infrastructure, housing and other amenities. Various state-owned enterprises created in the 1920s through to the 1950s contributed to the development of a manufacturing path. Eskom was formed in 1923 to produce cheap electricity for the railways and drive industrialisation. Iscor was set up as a monopoly to maximise the processing of domestic ore and achieve vertical integration in steel production. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) was established in 1940 to offer cheap finance to spur industrialisation. The IDC was instrumental in the founding of Sasol in 1950, which was created to produce synthetic fuels, mainly from coal. Moreover, South Africa, under the Union Government, and later under the apartheid government, deployed industrial policy systematically. This combined tariff protection, import-substitution industrialisation and the creation of industrial champions anchored in cheap energy and steel to stimulate downstream production. Industrial financing was funnelled to benefit not only the manufacturing sector, but also agriculture. These policy actions were central to powering South Africa's industrialisation and to catapulting the country towards national self-reliance. This industrial transformation would not have been possible without visionary leadership, firm political will and effective governance. The state played a pivotal role in propelling South Africa's industrial development and securing the economic advancement of poor Afrikaners. Hendrik van der Bijl, a brilliant engineer and technocrat who served as Director-General of War Supplies in the government of General Jan Smuts, was the driving force behind the creation of Eskom, Iscor and the IDC. Other influential public servants and scientists of this era included Frans du Toit and Etienne Rousseau, respectively founding chairman and managing director of Sasol, as well as Hendrik van Eck, head of the IDC. Opportunities in 2025 The rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, coupled with a crisis of multilateralism, provides South Africa with the opportunity to change course. In the same way as their predecessors used a crisis moment to remodel the post-war economy, South African leaders must take advantage of the tectonic global shifts to implement long-delayed structural reforms and fundamentally alter the structure and growth path of the South African economy. This means, among others matters, growing the economy and removing constraints to doing business, supporting the development of new sectors including innovation-driven industries, accelerating the inclusion of small and medium enterprises in the mainstream of the economy, reorienting trade and foreign policies, reforming state-owned enterprises, revitalising socioeconomic infrastructure, curbing illegal immigration, clamping down on crime, overhauling the public service and rooting out corruption. Thanks to poor governance, South Africa missed out on opportunities to turn around the country's chronically underperforming economy and ensure that it fulfils its considerable potential, overhaul the flawed foundations of the country's social and economic structure and seriously tackle the underbelly of inequality, poverty and social exclusion. This was the case, for example, at the height of the global commodity boom in the early 2000s, in the aftermath of the 2008/9 global financial crisis, and in the wake of the Covid-19 global pandemic. The crisis of global governance, which coincides with significant geopolitical changes and South Africa's chairing of the G20, provides another opportunity. The GNU must use the intersection of these developments as a catalyst for the country to reorient its incorporation into global production structures, remodel its economy, ignite social renewal and secure national self-reliance. The South African government today, unlike the erstwhile Union Government, is not reeling from the ravages of a global military war. But it faces conditions akin to war. It, therefore, must respond with the same degree of urgency and purposeful state action to what has become a dire national emergency. However, it cannot do that in the absence of inspired and effective leadership, as well as strong state institutions. Without a meritocratic, competent, professional and ethical public service, South African policymakers will fail to implement far-reaching structural reform of the country's political economy. DM
