Business Day reported that rapid urbanisation in Africa is increasing demand for development, local government, shelter and jobs, says an African Union (AU) report to be tabled at a ministerial conference on housing and urban development in Durban today.

More than half of Africa's estimated 750-million people will be living in cities within the next 20 years, the conference will hear as it seeks to help prepare Africa for the challenges that lie ahead.

According to the report, the combined population of African cities will double in the next 14 to 18 years. At least 200-million additional people are expected to move to Africa's cities.

At current levels of urbanisation and with distinct variations across regions, an average of 70% of the urban population in subSaharan Africa has traded a rural lifestyle for life in the city, Business Day said in a news report.

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