SACN WORKSHOPS ON URBAN RENEWAL

RECORD OF WORKSHOP HELD ON 1 – 2 OCTOBER 2003

AT ETC CENTRE IN PORT ELIZABETH

DAY 1

1.OPENING AND WELCOME

The workshop was opened by Monty Narsoo, who welcomed all present to the proceedings.

The workshop was attended by the following:

NAME / ORGANISATION & POSITION
Monty Narsoo / South African Cities Network
Carien Engelbrecht / World Bank/ Cities Alliance
Vanessa Watson / UCT
Petal Thring / Consultant contracted to South African Cities Network
Sheereen Rawat / Consultant contracted to South African Cities Network
Phillip Nel / Nelson Mandela Metro
Vuyo Zitumane / Nelson Mandela Metro
Erna van Zyl / Nelson Mandela Metro
Jonathan Mercer / Nelson Mandela Metro
D. Pelser / Mangaung Municipality
M. W. Machobo / Mangaung Municipality
K. F. Ralikontsane / Mangaung Municipality
Ben Klopper / Ekurhuleni Metro
Ivan Kadangure / Ekurhuleni Metro
B. van Zyl / Ekurhuleni Metro
A. Kotze / Ekurhuleni Metro
S. Tshabalala / Msunduzi Municipality
P. Machogo / Msunduzi Municipality
B. Nene / Msunduzi Municipality
Brian Basset / Msunduzi Municipality
Sarah Moloto / City of Cape Town
George Penxa / City of Cape Town
Cogi Pather / City of Cape Town
Mike Andrews / City of Cape Town
Linda Mbonambi / City of Cape Town
Ms. Mbali-Mageng / Buffalo City Municipality
Cllr. S. Dikimolo / Buffalo City Municipality
Craig Sam / Buffalo City Municipality
Dion Odendaal / Buffalo City Municipality
Sthembiso Khumalo / Presidency
Yusuf Patel / DPLG
Carole Hoch / DAC
Kuben Pillay / NDoT
Plaatjie Mahlobogoane / Treasury
Joseph Leshabane / SALGA
Mandisa Zungu

2.CLARIFICATION OF PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP

Monty Narsoo elaborated on the purpose of the workshop, and Sheereen Rawat clarified the programme for the workshop.

Questions of clarity were raised as follows:

  • Mr. Bheki Nene requested clarity on whether or not experiences and knowledge could be shared as part of the workshop. Monty Narsoo confirmed that knowledge sharing is a primary objective of the SA Cities Network and must therefore be an integral component of the proceedings.

3.URBAN STRATEGY AND CITY DEVELOPMENT SRATEGIES

Monty Narsoo made a presentation on the urban strategy and city development strategies.

The following items were raised in discussion:

  • Jonathan Mercer indicated that performance indicators are needed.
  • Jonathan Mercer suggested that the SA Cities Network should guide and advise cities on appropriate approaches to follow in respect of urban form. He further suggested that poor public transport implies that a multi-nodal approach must be followed. Alida Kotze disagreed with the statement that public transport is poor.
  • Jonathan Mercer said that it is important for communities to understand and to exercise their rights. Bheki Nene argued that people’s priorities prevented them from exercising their rights to participate and be involved.
  • Monty Narsoo said that there is a strong policy environment, but that mechanisms are needed to give effect to the policy and strategy.
  • Monty Narsoo highlighted the need to move from a process oriented to an outcomes base planning mechanism.
  • Representatives of the Msunduzi Municipality highlighted the need for vertical coordination, especially in establishing priorities and making (financial) commitments to such priorities.
  • Representatives of the Msunduzi Municipality highlighted the need to mobilise communities.
  • Yusuf Patel said that there is a need for local government to develop strategy “in a serious way” in planning processes. He further proposed that strategies should be developed together with all stakeholders.

4.URBAN RENEWAL REVIEW

Carien Engelbrecht presented an overview of urban renewal.

The following items were raised in discussion:

  • Vanessa Watson cautioned that urban renewal must be addressed in the context of an overall city development strategy.
  • Bheki Nene again stressed that the involvement of local communities is of central importance, and that substantial benefits may be derived from tapping into the latent energy of communities, including breaking the poverty cycle. There was general agreement and discussion on this.
  • There was general discussion on the need for greater emphasis on socio-economic development.
  • Joseph Leshabane said that the report that has been prepared by Carien Engelbrecht provided critical pointers for reconstruction of the city. He also argued that interventions in support of socio-political dimensions are key. Further, that effective land management is essential to the creation of integrated cities.
  • Yusuf Patel requested clarity on the methodology for identifying the interventions, and for establishing the frequency of interventions. Carien Engelbrecht elaborated on the methodology as set out in the document on Urban Renewal. Yusuf Patel said that it was interesting that transportation aspects were not prominent.
  • There was discussion on socio-economic vs. physical investment. There was general agreement that socio-economic investment lags behind physical development, and needs more emphasis. Further, that infrastructure delivery can still be improved. It was also noted that certain investments in physical infrastructure have socio-economic benefits e.g. Blue IQ.
  • Alida Kotze requested clarity on the format of a city development strategy, relative to an IDP.
  • Mike Andrews suggested that coordination is needed amongst the three spheres of government across the full spectrum of services. Further, that an increase in the mandate of local government must be accompanied by increased funding.
  • Sthembiso Khumalo expressed a need for a common definition and understanding of the outcomes of urban renewal.
  • Bheki Nene suggested that there should be a focus on property markets and investment in people and community initiatives and enterprises in all areas- not just urban centres.

5.CASE STUDY REVIEWS

The following case studies were presented:

  • The Motherwell Urban Renewal Project experience.
  • The Msunduzi Municipality experience.
  • Urban renewal strategies- the Buffalo City Municipality experience.
  • The IDP for Mangaung Municipality.

The following items were raised in discussion:

  • That investment in physical infrastructure is needed where basic services are not provided.
  • That vertical integration and the alignment of funding approaches of the three spheres of government is needed if a “business-as-usual” approach is to be avoided.
  • That urban renewal programmes have the potential to “pilot” integrated development.
  • That an overall urban strategy or policy framework is needed.
  • That consistent operating budgets are essential.

6.SUMMARY OF DAY 1 PROCEEDINGS

Sheereen Rawat summarised the proceedings of the first day of the workshop as follows:

Presentations by SA Cities Network

  • Cities should develop a city development strategy.
  • The city development strategy should have a long-term, strategic (as opposed to comprehensive) focus.
  • In South Africa, urban renewal has been conceived as a mechanism for strategic intervention within cities.
  • In terms of current practice, three categories or urban renewal may be identified for the purposes of analysis.
  • There are clearly opportunities to share experiences and to enhance the outcome of urban renewal interventions.

General comments

  • Urban renewal must be viewed in the context of a broader City Development Strategy.
  • Deconstruction is needed in order to reconstruct an integrated city form.
  • “Projectising” urban renewal.
  • Urban renewal: business as usual or a “pilot” for integrated development.

Gaps/ issues/ needs

  • Performance indicators need to be established.
  • Debate/ research/ recommendations are needed on appropriate/ optimal urban form [single vs multi-nodal].
  • Strategy/ mechanisms are needed to enable effective intergovernmental relations, such that priorities are shared, and commitments are made to facilitate implementation.
  • Functions need to be decentralized to local government, but must be accompanied with capacitation [including on strategy development in a more serious way] and corresponding funding increases.
  • There needs to be clarity on the relationship between the City Development Strategy and the IDPs.
  • On overall urban renewal strategy is needed. Urban renewal: business as usual or a “pilot” for integrated development.
  • Strategy/ mechanisms are needed to mobilize the “latent energy” of communities, particularly in the context of limited resources.
  • Socio-economic interventions and outcomes need to be strengthened, and must include provision for investment in people and business
  • The relationship between physical development and social development needs to be assessed.

Examples of urban renewal projects

  • There is extensive work underway in the various nodes and cities, within which there are numerous successful interventions and lessons learnt.
  • The challenge is how best to share knowledge and experience?

7.IDENTIFICATION OF GAPS/ ISSUES/ NEEDS

All workshop participants were requested to identify two issues, gaps or needs in respect of urban renewal.

Inputs were recorded on cards that were submitted prior to closure of the day’s proceedings.

DAY 2

8.TRAINING PROPOSALS

Vanessa Watson presented preliminary proposals on training.

The following items were raised in discussion:

  • Craig Sam suggested that housing and infrastructure should be included in the training module.
  • Brian Bassett cautioned that people without formal qualifications should not be excluded from urban renewal.
  • Cogi Pather suggested that social dynamics should be included in the training module. There was general discussion and agreement on this. Carien Engelbrecht further proposed that modules on mediation and conflict resolution, and crime related strategies also be included.
  • Bertus van Zyl said that the outcome must be practical.
  • Yusuf Patel said that generic thinking skills are needed.
  • Monty Narsoo summarized that both practical and intellectual skills need to be addressed in the proposed training modules.

9.CONFIRMATION OF ISSUES/ NEEDS/ GAPS AND PROGRAMME OF ACTION

Sheereen Rawat presented the outputs of the cards submitted on the previous day and there was discussion on this as follows:

  1. Performance measurement
  • Need for performance indicators for socio-economic development.

Proposals:

  • Discussion document to be prepared on what and how to measure on urban renewal projects, as well as linkage of urban renewal performance measurement with the systems within the various cities.
  1. Knowledge sharing
  2. Need for training on urban renewal.
  3. Need for Cities Network to document best practice and to establish a group to meet regularly.
  4. Need for research on urban decline and decay.
  5. Need to common understanding of definitions [urban, rural, urban renewal].

Proposals:

  • Opportunities for the sharing and discussion of experiences to be provided by SACN.
  • Formal processes to be established for the documentation of experiences.
  • Dedicated training programme to be developed.
  • Research to be undertaken on urban decline and decay.
  • Basic definitions of urban, rural etc. to be placed on the SACN website.
  1. Policy and strategy formulation
  2. Need for an overall urban renewal strategy that sets out a common definition, a motivation for urban renewal, and clear goals and objectives.
  3. Need for improved functioning of mechanisms such as IDPs, and land management systems.
  4. Need for clarity on the output and process of preparation of a city development strategy.
  5. Need for stronger intervention in human and social development, and the upliftment of people.

Proposals:

  • National urban renewal strategy to be finalized.
  • Opportunities to strengthen the IDP process to be investigated.
  • Concept of a “city development strategy” to be documented.
  1. Financial aspects
  2. Need for intra-governmental alignment of budget and urban renewal interventions, in respect of both capital and operational expenditure.
  3. Need for inter-governmental alignment of priorities and associated funding.
  4. Need for a block grant?

Proposals:

  • Discussion document to be established in respect of the alignment of budget cycles and strategic priorities.
  • Position paper to be established by the cities in support of a block grant for urban renewal interventions.
  1. Institutional aspects
  2. Need for intra-governmental alignment across the sectors.
  3. Need for improved inter-governmental planning and strategy development.
  4. Need for community and stakeholder mobilization.

Proposals:

  • DPLG to issue draft document on Inter-Governmental Relations, for cities to review.
  • SACN to arrange for a forum to review best practice.

10.SITE VISIT TO MOTHERWELL URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT

Workshop participants undertook a site visit to the Motherwell Urban Renewal Project, which was arranged and hosted by the Programme Manager, Walter Shaidi.

11.ATTACHMENTS

  • SA Cities Network Overview- Monty Narsoo
  • Urban Renewal Overview- Carien Engelbrecht
  • Cast study: Motherwell- Walter Shaidi
  • Msunduzi Municipality- Bheki Nene
  • Buffalo City- Craig Sam
  • Magaung-
  • Preliminary Training Proposals- Vanessa Watson

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