Latest news with #Urban20
eNCA
03-08-2025
- eNCA
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi releases forensic reports
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi released another batch of forensic investigation reports on Sunday. It follows the disclosure of 47 reports exposing fraud, ghost employees, inflated invoices, and irregular appointments. Several cases have been referred to law enforcement including three senior officials who failed lifestyle audits. The premier said on the 25 July he received reports communicating the provincial state of readiness for the G20, the state of readiness for Tshwane and Johannesburg ahead of the Urban 20; the state of Gauteng's municipal finances, the state of local government performance concerning service delivery measures, crime prevention; an update on investigation into allegations of misconduct in addressing issues of sinkholes, and framework for municipal plans to deal with indigent residents. Lesufi announced that he, members of the provincial cabinet and executive mayors would be conducting walkabour inspections on infrastructure. He also communicated the province is excited to host the LIV Golf tournament in 2026. Lesufi then summarised the forensic reports to be released to the public. "The released reports detail investigations into serious offences and improper behaviour across multiple departments. They cover a wide range of misconduct from criminal acts to minor breaches of conduct, which we also take seriously," he said. Of the forensic reports released, the Department of Agriculture had 10 reports, the Education Department had seven reports, and Gauteng Health was the subject of four reports.
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
African cities need fiscal power to survive rapid urbanisation
In terms of urbanisation, what works in London or Washington cannot be transplanted to African cities like Maputo or Lusaka. Africa is urbanising rapidly. According to Africa's Urbanisation Dynamics 2025 – an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report – cities will house 1.4 billion people by 2050 – twice today's number. But this growth is happening in cities that lack the financial power to shape their own futures. Most African cities struggle to raise revenue, borrow money or spend capital at scale. They depend on national governments for funding and long-term planning and are often stuck waiting for budget limited allocations. This has real consequences. Cities struggle to build the roads, housing, power, sanitation or public transport their growing populations need. Climate change makes this worse. Flooding, drought, heatwaves and other climate shocks are hitting cities harder and more often, damaging infrastructure and draining already scarce resources. Cities must now build infrastructure that is not only bigger, but also more resilient and climate-smart. Yet they lack the tools to act, even when the need is urgent. The Urban 20 (U20) brings together mayors from major G20 cities to inform the discussions of national leaders at the G20 Summit, to be held in Johannesburg in November. The recent African Mayors' Assembly in Tshwane – held under the Urban 20 banner and hosted for the first time on African soil – crystallised this challenge into a single question: how do we finance the infrastructure that 1.4 billion urban Africans will need when our cities lack the basic authority to raise and deploy capital? Some cities, such as Johannesburg and Nairobi, have working systems, but they're stretched. Others are building from scratch. Across the continent, the scale of need is vast. ALSO READ: Multi-billion Limpopo mega-project has ground to a halt According to the African Development Bank, Africa needs $130 billion (about R2.2 trillion) to $170 billion annually for infrastructure. However, international lenders typically require three things before they finance city projects: steady revenue streams, a proven ability to repay loans and established institutions. Most African cities don't meet these criteria, creating a Catch-22 situation: they need infrastructure to generate revenue, but need revenue to finance infrastructure. That's why we're pleased that leaders at U20 met to craft an African G20 strategy that addresses burning issues and is built on lived realities, not Western blueprints. At the heart of the discussions was one recurring theme: devolution of fiscal power. In simple terms, this means giving cities more control over their own money. Local governments across Africa are stuck in outdated, centralised funding systems. National governments still control the purse strings. Cities must wait for budget allocations, which limits their ability to plan, borrow or build at the pace their people need. This creates a major bottleneck. Without fiscal authority, cities can't enter financing partnerships, tap capital markets or respond to urgent infrastructure demands. A collective call emerged from the assembly, voiced in a letter signed by dozens of mayors and directed at African finance ministers: Unshackle us. Give cities real fiscal authority – the power to raise, manage and spend revenue, access capital markets and forge financing partnerships. Without this, talk of climate finance and urban resilience is just that – talk. ALSO READ: Deputy Minister warns low-income countries will be hit hardest by geopolitical tensions African cities also need new financial models grounded in reality, not copy-pasted solutions from Europe or North America. What works in London or Washington cannot simply be transplanted to Maputo or Lusaka. Our models must factor in informal development, youth unemployment, weak revenue bases and uneven infrastructure legacies. At Ntiyiso Consulting Group, we have seen what works. Cities that build, digitise revenue collection and improve service delivery can unlock local capital. Municipal bonds, blended finance and public-private partnerships are possible if cities are empowered to plan and account. African cities also need an 'Urban African Union' of sorts – a regional coordination mechanism that allows cities to learn from each other's innovations and speak with a collective voice to international partners. The financing gap is too large for individual cities to bridge alone, but collective action could unlock new opportunities. The U20 Assembly was significant because it articulated a new approach to African urban development. Cities that control their fiscal destiny can plan for long-term growth. The next phase requires specific policy changes: constitutional amendments that guarantee municipal fiscal authority. We need regional frameworks that support cross-border collaboration. And we need international partnerships that strengthen local capacity rather than bypass it. African cities are not broken versions of global West municipalities – they are different economic entities that need different tools. The U20 summit began articulating what those tools might look like. The question now is whether African governments have the political will to provide them. By 2050, the success or failure of African cities will determine the trajectory of the global economy. Getting urban financing right is a global necessity. NOW READ: Africa Food Show: Tapping into the potential of the continent's food and beverage market
Eyewitness News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Tshwane, Joburg mayors say EC floods devastation sign of urgency in addressing municipalities issues
JOHANNESBURG - The Tshwane and Johannesburg Mayors said the devastation from the Eastern Cape floods is a sign of the urgency in addressing challenges faced by municipalities, including poor infrastructure and disaster preparedness. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero are currently hosting their counterparts from elsewhere in the world, with talks entering a second day in Tshwane on Friday. This is part of the African Mayors' Assembly and U20 Sherpa Meeting, where delegates are set to influence policy for local government. Their policy directives will form part of South Africa's recommendations to global leaders at the G20 Leaders Summit later in 2025. Morero said local government cannot continue to bear the brunt of shortfalls on a global scale. 'African cities are on the frontlines of climate disruption, yet least responsible for its causes.' Moya said the Urban 20 meetings must find consensus on climate financing, among solutions to other common issues. 'The conversations that we have here must bear fruit and in this case, we must be able to prevent the loss of lives, when we can do something about it.'
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Urban 20 Africa mayors gather in Tshwane to help shape G20 agenda
African mayors are gathered at the Urban 20 meeting in Tshwane to discuss how their cities can take centre stage in shaping the narrative at the Sherpa meeting. The Urban 20 (U20) was launched in 2017 to bring together mayors from major G20 cities to inform the discussions of national leaders at the G20. Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya, who is hosting the first leg of the U20 cycle alongside Johannesburg, said it was opportune that the two cities were collaborating to advance their shared goals. According to the mayor of the capital, this was a signal that Africa was no longer waiting for a place in the global conversation, but was claiming its position with 'clarity, purpose and urgency'. 'This urban transition brings with it great potential. Our cities are becoming centres of innovation, climate action and economic activity. They are where the future of Africa is being shaped. But this future is not guaranteed. Urban 20 gives us a vital megaphone within the G20. It is our opportunity to inject African priorities into global policy, and to ensure that local voices shape global decisions,' said Moya. She presented the assembly's four themes, calling each one a lever for transformation. 'Inclusive economic growth is the first theme, highlighting the African continental free trade agreement as a 'vision for a collaborative future.' It is one of shared markets, cross-border industries, and cities connected by commerce, not conflict. But visions must rest on strong foundations. 'Are our cities ready to support this vision? Do we have the roads, the regulations, the ports, and the digital rails to make trade flow? We know that we are still far from achieving truly inclusive economic growth. But we also know that cities must be at the centre of this effort — because without inclusive cities, there can be no inclusive continent.' Moya said financing the urban future is the second pillar, calling a vision without funding an illusion. 'Too many African cities are shut out of global capital markets. We face barriers of creditworthiness, limited financial access and outdated legal frameworks that make investment difficult. If we are serious about building smart, green and resilient cities, we must rethink how we finance them. That means developing innovative funding instruments, creating tailored public-private partnerships, reforming our legal environments, and forging stronger alliances with those who believe in the potential of African cities,' she said. Third, Moya said, social inclusion and equity was paramount, adding that a city that grows without justice becomes a 'city of walls'. 'As mayor of the capital city in one of the most unequal countries in the world, I see the deep divide between the haves and the have-nots every day. Access to opportunity is not equal. Talent does not always meet support. Hard work does not always lead to progress. 'We cannot build thriving cities while leaving behind the homeless, the informal traders, or the youth with potential but no clear path forward. Cities must be built for dignity. That requires inclusive planning, targeted investment and policies that close the gap, not widen it.' The mayor urged African cities to work smarter, highlighting innovation as playing a key role in solving service delivery challenges. 'Technology will not solve everything, but it can help us deliver more with less. From digital permitting and e-governance to smart water meters and AI-enabled waste systems, innovation offers us practical tools to improve services and reach more people — faster and more efficiently. 'For a continent with the youngest population in the world, we cannot afford to be left behind as the rest of the world advances. Innovation must not be a luxury. It must be a tool for inclusion, equity, and delivery.' Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero described the co-chairship as symbolic, marking a practical demonstration of the power of intercity collaboration. He said it must be unity of purpose that defines the metropolitan agenda, as well as the leadership role African cities are called upon to play in the global discourse in urban transformation that must take centre stage. 'When we assumed the U20 chairship from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro last November, we made a decision to bring the voices of African cities into the centre of G20 deliberations — not as peripheral observers, but as strategic contributors to the global future. 'Let us be unapologetic in asserting that cities are not junior partners in development. We are the engines of innovation, the custodians of resilience, and the closest point of contact between government and the people.' Johannesburg is expected to host its leg of the event, the U20 mayoral summit, in September. It is at this meeting that they are scheduled to finalise their communique and hand it over to the national leadership to ensure that urban priorities are integrated into the G20.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
City to host national mayoral summit in Oct
Gandhinagar: Ahmedabad will host a 'National Urban Conclave and Mayoral Summit' in mid-Oct this year, where various subjects related to governance of urban local bodies will be discussed by about 150 mayors of the country, along with experts in urban management subjects. State govt sources said that the summit is being organized on Oct 15 and 16 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who served as president of the Ahmedabad municipality over a century ago. The conclave will be themed on 'Let us Unite Together to Innovate, Lead and Transform', sources said. Sources involved in planning of the event said that sessions of the conclave will include rethinking planning and governance frameworks, encouraging climate resilient development, catalysing digital urban features, main-streaming women and youth in urban development, redefining city investment and climate finance. Sources said that over the recent past, Ahmedabad has implemented modernisation projects while maintaining its cultural legacy. Major projects such as the Sabarmati Riverfront development, multimodal transport hub (BRTS, AMTS and Metro), Smart City initiatives, urban greening, sports and cultural activities, and high-quality infrastructure, have been undertaken, sources said. Ahmedabad also hosted the sixth cycle of Urban 20 (U20) 2023, one of the 11 engagement groups under G20. During India's G20 presidency, U20 India collaborated with global cities to create a roadmap for transformative urban impact and narrowing gaps between policy and implementation across governance levels. During the U20 Mayoral Summit, the state govt released the Ahmedabad Climate Resilient City Action Plan: Towards a Net Zero Future by 2070. A heritage walk, visit to the Sabarmati Riverfront and Atal Bridge, and a visit to GIFT City are also being planned as part of the two-day conclave, sources said.
