South Africa’s future cities: facing up to hard choices

Considering the harsh reality revealed by long-term trajectories, how feasible are the country’s current urban plans?

Date: 2026-02-05

Time: 11:00 to 12:30

Venue: Pretoria Seminar room and online via Zoom

Despite ambitious plans and rising investment, South Africa’s cities are still shaped by inequality, informality, infrastructure strain and failing governance. This signals a deep misalignment between urban visions, institutional capacity and the systems governing everyday city life.

Amid the review of the White Paper on Local Government and preparations for municipal elections later this year, this seminar will interrogate the country’s urban futures. Speakers will consider whether current policies, financing models and governance arrangements can deliver viable, resilient cities or deepen failure.

Moderator: Pete Ahmad, Talking Transformation Podcast Host

Welcome: Jakkie Cilliers, Head, African Futures and Innovation, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and ISS Board of Trustees chair

Panellists:

• Dhesigen Naidoo, Research Associate, Climate Risk and Human Security Project, ISS
• Geci Karuri-Sebina, Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand
• Edgar Pieterse, Director, African Centre for Cities, University of Cape Town
• Elsona van Huyssteen, Principal Researcher, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research