In 2005 we were the first funder of the Africa Center for Cities established by Edgar Pieterse (one of our Reference Group). This has grown to be one of the most prestigious organisations of its kind globally.
More formally the AC has, in partnership and in support, from 2017 been actively engaged in this space and will be presenting at the SALDRU SA@30 conference in April this year.
In this period to 2020 the Africa Leadership Initiative held several Dialogues including ones with Minister of COGTA Zweli Mkhize, Parks Tau Mayor of Johannesburg and Tsakani Maluleki then DG Auditor General. These raised a range of weaknesses in the municipal and urban arena. The AC practically and financially supported research and projects that were birthed by these and other engagements. Two successful projects in particular emerged.
First. In partnership with Wiebke Toussant of Engineers Without Borders a project to assist the transition from graduate to professional engineers was built – D4MIA. 120 engineers were deployed in Municipalities mainly in the Eastern Cape to gain qualifying experience and to develop primarily asset management and maintenance data systems which continue to influence to this day.
The second involved commissioning a team of 3 (overseen by Zora Ebrahim) to undertake a thorough analysis of weaknesses in our municipalities and to begin to propose solutions. Very ambitious and largely academic research which was shared with the relevant government departments.
Other products of this period include a proposal for a post graduate diploma for professionals (engineers, finance, audit, project managers) working in municipalities, or for organisations in support of those, that would improve their ability to function in the space by better understanding the governance, constraints and enablers and building multi-disciplinary skills essential for delivery and survival.
In 2021/2, we supported Rudi Dicks of Operation Vulindlela, to appoint a team to review and research practical failures in municipalites in search of solutions. AC funded and oversaw the work and established a team to review and comment on their output.
One of the conclusions was that COGTA and Treasury had built an antagonistic relationship over time. At RD’s request, in 2023, we found and hired a facilitator (Andrew Boraine) to help defuse and build this relationship. AB is currently drafting a white paper which results in part from that work. We are still in contact although we do not fund this stage of his work.
Our continued belief that the potential for a positive future for South Africa, once Operation Vulindlela builds a base, rests largely in this space and has kept the AC engaged with a large range of individuals and organisations. The paper we will present at SALDRU captures our argument and sets out work that needs to be done.