Innovation Hub set up
Premier Nomvula Mokonyane made the announcement at the Metropolis Annual Meeting in Sandton.
“The centre will track innovative urban practices on an international scale and will provide South Africa and other partners across the world with a best practices platform for urban development,” said Mokonyane.
She said it would also provide direct support and incentives to municipalities, communities and other key agents involved in innovative urban practices.
National Planning Commission Minister Trevor Manuel said the establishment of the centre aimed to give meaning to the proposals embodied in Chapter Eight of the National Development Plan, “which provides a framework for addressing challenges related to the transformation of human settlement and the national space economy.”
He said detailed modalities of how the centre would function would be worked out by both parties over the next few months.
“Some of the areas that will be the focus of the centre include; public service delivery and management; use of technology to solve complex urban problems; development of infrastructure for new economies and transport and mobility among others,” concluded Manuel.Manuel said the decision to collaborate on this initiative was based on an understanding that with urbanisation expected to continue, the challenges were unlikely to ease.
“We are fully cognisant of the fact that unless we act swiftly, the patience of our fellow citizens, who live on the periphery, will run out. We need to urgently devise and implement credible plans to intervene and make our cities inclusive; and bring the majority of citizens of our cities into the mainstream and not the periphery.”
He emphasised the importance of equipping people with skills and education, to take advantage of opportunities offered by the economies of the cities.
“We need to plan, design, and manage cities for people,” he added.
