Latest news with #Urban20
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
3 days ago
- 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.
